Chelsea 0-2 Man Metropolis: What did we study from Enzo Maresca’s first recreation in cost at Stamford Bridge? | Soccer Information

Manchester Metropolis’s Premier League title defence received off to a successful begin at Stamford Bridge, ruining Enzo Maresca’s first recreation in cost as Chelsea head coach.

Erling Haaland’s first objective of the season got here after simply 19 minutes, earlier than Mateo Kovacic lower by way of Chelsea’s midfield to safe all three factors for Metropolis with a long-range effort within the second half.

Chelsea common uncommon hopeful attacking strikes as they have been largely outclassed by Pep Guardiola’s aspect.

However Maresca mentioned: “I think we competed very well for much of the game. We were similar if not better. The performance was there but we didn’t take the chances.

“Most likely the large distinction was contained in the field. I am fairly blissful by way of efficiency. For me, the necessary factor is to create possibilities. We did not rating however we created possibilities.”

Here is what we discovered from Maresca’s Premier League bow…

How does Maresca deal with a bloated squad?

Some report it’s 43, some have mentioned it’s within the 50s. The reality is that the common variety of gamers Chelsea have had of their squad over the previous 10 years is 48, so at 42 by my reckoning, they’re at present working with fewer gamers than that. You may make 5 substitutions and have 9 on the bench.

Maresca’s first-team squad will likely be between 25 and 28. It’s a narrative that has constructed up however it isn’t totally correct. Having completed sixth final season, they have been additionally simply three wins away from a Cup and Champions League place.

This was the primary recreation – on August 18 – of an 11-month season that is because of finish on July 13 following the FIFA Membership World Cup. Maresca will streamline his squad and make extra ruthless calls. In opposition to a well-oiled Metropolis aspect, this was an early actuality test of the scale of the duty he faces.

This was a very good time to play Chelsea as Maresca continues to put the foundations to his reign, however Metropolis haven’t gained 4 Premier League titles in a row by taking a visit to Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend frivolously. This was an expert job from begin to end.

Against this, questions abound on the efficacy of the Clearlake Capital operation and Chelsea have numerous excellent enterprise to conclude earlier than September. It will likely be a thrill a minute beneath Maresca off the pitch, however his adjustments within the second half solely briefly reignited perception in rescuing a draw.

Issues enjoying out from the again

Simply as was witnessed within the 4-2 defeat by Metropolis in pre-season, Chelsea have been steadfast in enjoying out from the again – even when the choice actually was not on. Jeremy Doku should have punished Malo Gusto when his shot deflected off Wesley Fofana and drew a superb save from Robert Sanchez when Metropolis have been already within the ascendancy.

Sanchez then handed straight to Kevin De Bruyne barely 90 seconds into the second half in in search of Cole Palmer however his carelessness prevented extreme ramifications.

There have been loads of groans within the first half when each Levi Colwill and Fofana have been too gradual of their build-up play, even ponderous on the ball resulting from an absence of motion in entrance of them. Maresca is making an attempt to breathe braveness into his gamers as Pep Guardiola has executed at Metropolis, in a approach he’ll know solely too properly having labored with the Catalan as his assistant.

It is a perfect the brand new boss won’t waiver from after one recreation however the teething issues that have been witnessed finishing up these directions to work by way of the thirds have been evident once more right here.

Lavia’s new starting

Romeo Lavia impressed throughout Southampton’s 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge in February 2023, a lot in order that Chelsea forked out £58m on the 20-year-old Belgian final summer season.

However Lavia performed simply 32 minutes in a single substitute look throughout an injury-ravaged first season wherein he labored beneath Mauricio Pochettino.

With Maresca in cost, this felt like a brand new starting and Lavia can take encouragement from the 65 minutes earlier than his withdrawal, constructing on a powerful pre-season.

In in search of an equaliser, Maresca turned to the previous Plan A of enjoying Moises Caicedo alongside Enzo Fernandez as Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor took on the No 10 position.

Lavia had 49 touches, which was solely bettered by Marc Cucurella (69) throughout his time on the pitch.

Enzo handed Gallagher position

Conor Gallagher was Pochettino’s highway runner, beginning the press as Chelsea’s most superior of the midfield three. Fernandez assumed that place in opposition to the defending champions, however he was not tied to it.

A beautiful change of play to Gusto having dropped deep – Harry Kane-like – was the very best cross of the opening half whereas he operated up on the proper within the second half to slip an inviting ball throughout the field that wanted diverting broad by Rico Lewis on the far publish.

In a season the place there will likely be many shifting items at Chelsea, Fernandez is prone to be one of many few constants. It was necessary the Argentine produced a mature show off the again of his Copa America misdemeanor however that well-documented act of misconduct is now behind him.

Gallagher is caught in a holding sample and we have no idea at this time limit if his deal to Atletico Madrid will likely be revived. The Spanish membership must discover a answer to generate the mandatory funds. For so long as that rumbles on, Fernandez is prone to retain his place increased up the pitch.

Kovacic show highlights midfield points

Chelsea’s three-man midfield value the membership a mixed £255m, and but it was a former participant who regarded essentially the most convincing in a Metropolis shirt. Mateo Kovacic made 221 appearances throughout a five-year spell at Stamford Bridge, however he impressed within the absence of Rodri on the base of Guardiola’s midfield.

Not recognized for his objectives, his clincher was an aesthetic disguised end and well-deserved.

Given Metropolis misplaced three of the 4 video games when Rodri was absent final season, it was an necessary hurdle overcome on the opening day by the champions, who’re unbeaten when the Spaniard has performed up to now 18 months.

Maresca chosen 11 gamers from the beginning who all knew one another from final season, however by the top, he had Dewsbury-Corridor, Renato Veiga, Pedro Neto and Marc Guiu on the pitch.

That signalled simply why it was so necessary for Chelsea to attain first. In in search of recent impetus, Maresca turned to gamers untested in these environment and so the workforce’s quest for parity resembled a search social gathering amongst strangers within the night time.

Jackson’s acquainted drawback

Solely Darwin Nunez (33) has been offside extra since begin of final season than Nicolas Jackson. On Sunday, the thirtieth of the flags in opposition to him denied Chelsea an equaliser simply earlier than the break.

Ederson’s error was pounced on by the Senegalese striker however his close-range end was rightly dominated out. He had simply did not get again onside.

Jackson is finest when appearing on intuition, he did on the hour-mark when he peeled off Ruben Dias to acrobatically power the save from Ederson from Lavia’s header again into the field.

It will show the closest Chelsea got here to a leveller as he was withdrawn not lengthy after, taking his seat on the bench and reflecting once more on what may need been. It progressively became a strong first season in England for Jackson, who completed on 17 objectives in the course of the 2023/24 marketing campaign beneath Pochettino.

Chelsea ended the sport with simply two photographs on the right track, however with a superior xG to their opponents. Jackson usually wants three possibilities to attain as soon as. With Christopher Nkunku now match and Maresca with a humiliation of riches throughout the ahead line, each clean will really feel pricey.

Will Chelsea be caught with Sterling?

The pre-match build-up was dominated by Raheem Sterling’s entourage releasing an ill-timed assertion on the participant’s omission from the squad. He, together with Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Axel Disasi had been not noted.

Chilwell has been recovering from an sickness however has been advised to search for a brand new membership whereas Maresca mentioned Disasi was nonetheless coming again to full health. However for Chukwuemeka and Sterling, their absence was for “technical reasons”.

Sterling clearly didn’t take that information very properly. On £325,000 every week, it’s exhausting to think about there will likely be a queue lining as much as signal the 29-year-old, whose profession seems to be in gradual decline.

Each participant and membership have signalled a necessity for readability within the coming days. From the skin, it could seem that Chelsea are simply wanting to get his huge wages off the books.

When requested about Sterling’s future afterwards, Maresca mentioned: “I don’t know [if he will be part of my plans]. It’s a technical decision and in the next days we will clarify the situation.

“I would like Raheem Sterling, however I would like all of the 30 gamers that we’ve got. There’s not house for all of them so a few of them must depart.”