Enzo Maresca feels his Chelsea aspect are persevering with to enhance after registering the primary win on their pre-season tour of the US by beating Membership America 3-0.
Maresca has not had the simplest of begins with the west London membership following his transfer from Leicester Metropolis. The race row attributable to midfielder Enzo Fernandez rumbled on for over a fortnight earlier than lastly being resolved whereas a draw with League One aspect Wrexham and a 4-1 hammering by Celtic raised eyebrows.
However final evening’s win, which got here courtesy of penalties from Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke both aspect of a header from younger striker Marc Guiu, lastly introduced some respite.
Maresca mentioned: “I’m very completely satisfied. I mentioned the opposite day once we misplaced that the result’s all the time vital as a result of we’re Chelsea however the primary focus for us in the meanwhile needs to be to analyse or to evaluate the efficiency and see how we’ve got improved.
“From my private perspective, from Wrexham, to Celtic, to in the present day, we proceed to enhance. That is a very powerful factor.
“We struggled in opposition to Wrexham for a lot of causes, we struggled in opposition to Celtic for a lot of causes however there have been many vital issues which we improved [against Celtic]. And in the present day, we continued that line, which is a very powerful factor.
“Since we began, what we do in coaching has to occur within the recreation. Towards Wrexham, we ready one thing and it occurred. Towards Celtic, the identical and once more in the present day, the identical factor.”
So, so silky. ✨#BluesInTheUSA pic.twitter.com/fjh5bAU1hZ
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 1, 2024
Fernandez again within the combine
Fernandez’s return to the squad on Monday following an prolonged summer time break threatened to trigger disruption however the membership say the matter is closed and team-mate Wesley Fofana – one of many foremost critics of the Argentina worldwide’s conduct in posting a video on social media that questioned the heritage of France’s black and mixed-race gamers – has accepted his apology.
The previous Benfica midfielder appeared for the second 45 minutes in Atlanta and Maresca admitted he’s taking part in catch-up.
He added on the membership’s official web site: “You’ll be able to see that he’s a bit behind. When it comes to his bodily conditioning, he was a bit sluggish. He had one or two periods with us so 45 minutes in the present day was simply one other probability to offer him one other session.
“These sorts of video games, we additionally use them like a coaching session and for Enzo, in the present day was an excellent coaching session.”
