Things could have gotten really ugly at one point for Chelsea. When Erling Haaland scored his hat-trick, and Manchester City’s fourth, on 56 minutes – the score line could have become anything by full-time.
To the Blues’ credit, though, they held their nerve and kept their cool after City’s fourth and started again. They played football the Enzo Maresca way, even though the style had cost them three of the four goals they had conceded.
After beating Club America 3-0 on Wednesday evening, Chelsea were unable to build on that win on Saturday at the Ohio Stadium. And, with all of this being said, Bobby Vincent writes down his main talking points from the 4-2 defeat in Columbus.
Maresca prediction comes true
“For sure, we are going to concede goals this season playing out from the back,” Maresca said a week-and-a-half ago after Chelsea drew 2-2 with Wrexham in their pre-season opener. “Hopefully not too many but it is one of the risks that you have trying to build from behind.”
That was certainly the case against Man City. And with Haaland sniffing about, that is not something you can afford to do, as Chelsea found out in brutal style.
First up it was Tosin Adarabioyo who gave the ball away just minutes in and Haaland then won a penalty after being tripped up by Levi Colwill inside the box. Literally just moments after Haaland scored from 12 yards, he was on hand to make it 2-0 after City were gifted possession by the returning Moises Caicedo.
Haaland’s hat-trick came from Malo Gusto losing possession in the middle of the pitch. All three of the Norwegian’s goals were gifted to him by some lackadaisical Chelsea play.
Guardiola jumps to Chelsea’s defence
Pep Guardiola, though, believes this may have been down to the condition of the playing surface at the Ohio Stadium. “I want to say something. It’s happened due to the pitch conditions,” Guardiola said post-match.
“In normal conditions, that would not happen. At Stamford Bridge, that would not happen. That’s for sure.”
A statement Maresca later agreed with: “Sometimes when we say something it sounds like an excuse so I do not want to say this but for sure, the pitch doesn’t help. With the way we like to play, the pitch needs to be quick but it was slowing it down.”
Defence is an issue
Chelsea’s overall defending has not been good enough on this pre-season tour. Yes, there is an element of everyone getting to grips with Maresca-ball but the reality is, Manchester City come to Stamford Bridge in a fortnight. And that’s when the real stuff begins.
In their four games in the United States, Chelsea have conceded 10 goals – with just one clean sheet, coming against a Club America side that looked pretty ordinary. Real Madrid await so there could be some more to add to the conceded column before the tour is completed.
However, the Blues have shown some promising signs in possession and in attacking positions as well. Particularly in the second-half on Saturday evening.
The second-half beginning saw Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke enter proceedings. The duo, who replaced Mykhailo Mudryk and Caicedo at the half-time break, both started last time out in Atlanta but Maresca tried something different in Columbus.
Both wingers immediately looked a threat and it was not too long until Madueke created Sterling’s goal. A lovely solo run and cross found Sterling at the back post – and the 29-year-old finished in emphatic fashion on the volley, on his weaker left foot.
Madueke himself got on the score sheet later in the half. After being fed through via a brilliant Romeo Lavia pass, Madueke had the coolness to slot the ball into the bottom corner and make the score-line look a whole lot more respectable from a Chelsea point of view.
