stamford bridge:Chelsea's Pre-Season Struggles and Resilience
In a dramatic pre-season finale, Chelsea drew 1-1 with Inter Milan, salvaged by Lesley Ugochukwu's last-minute equalizer. Despite defensive issues, conceding 13 goals in six matches, Chelsea showed resilience. Inter's Marcus Thuram opened the scoring, highlighting Chelsea's need for a solid striker. New manager Enzo Maresca faces challenges ahead of the Premier League opener against Manchester City, needing to address squad depth and defensive frailties.#Chelsea #InterMilan #PremierLeague #Football #Soccer
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00:00In their final pre-season fixture, Chelsea managed a dramatic 1-1 draw with Inter Milan,
00:06thanks to a last-minute equaliser from Lesley Yugiechukwu.
00:11Despite a lacklustre pre-season characterised by defensive vulnerabilities, conceding 13
00:17goals and 6 friendlies, the Blues showed some resilience in the dying moments of the match.
00:23Inter Milan opened the scoring with a beautifully crafted goal, which saw Jan Bessek's surging
00:28run and Joaquin Correa's deft pass setting up Marcus Thuram for a thunderbolt finish.
00:35Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's new boss, was visibly frustrated as he relayed instructions to his
00:40players.
00:43He found some solace when Noni Maduks cross found Mikaela Mudric, though Mudric's attempt
00:48was erratic.
00:49Thuram's performance highlighted Chelsea's need for a definitive No. 9, prompting Maresca
00:55to make half-time changes, including introducing Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku.
01:02Nkunku came close to scoring, and Levi Colwell rattled the post, signalling Chelsea's dominance
01:07in the second half.
01:10Positivity grew, but a crescendo was never reached.
01:15While Palmer brightened Chelsea's play and Mudric had useful touches, the end product
01:20was lacking.
01:23Yugachukwa's equaliser came from a poorly defended corner, offering some relief.
01:29With just one win in pre-season, a 2-1 victory over Club America, Maresca faces many questions
01:35ahead of their Premier League opener against Manchester City in a week's time.
01:41The introduction of new signings, including Pedro Neto, poses challenges for squad management.
01:49Chelsea's squad, currently bloated, will need trimming before the competitive season
01:53begins.
01:55The opening weekend of the Premier League features Chelsea vs Manchester City, live
02:00on Sky Sports, promising an action-packed start to the season.
02:05Alongside this fixture, there are other exciting matches, including Man Utd vs Fulham and Leicester
02:11vs Tottenham.
02:14With new challenges ahead, Chelsea must address their defensive frailties and find cohesion
02:19among their new signings to make a strong start in the Premier League.