Chelsea’s pre-season campaign kicks off against Wrexham, a League One team, marking the debut of Enzo Maresca as Chelsea’s manager. This match, held in California as part of their U.S. tour, offers an early look at Maresca’s leadership.
After stabilizing under Mauricio Pochettino last season, Chelsea fans had hoped for some consistency, but the club’s new direction under Maresca aims at consistently competing for titles.
On the field, the team reflects this transition, with several new players expected to make their pre-season appearances.
Wrexham, now in the third tier, hopes to pose a stronger challenge than in their last encounter when Chelsea defeated them 5-0.
This match is part of Wrexham’s preparation for a challenging season in League One, following significant investments by owners Rob McElhenny and Ryan Reynolds.
The club has brought in new talent, including Lewis Brunt and Sebastian Revan, and has shown promise in pre-season friendlies against Hanley and Bournemouth.
Maresca, in his first press conference, expressed regret over leaving Trevoh Chalobah out of the U.S. tour squad. Chalobah, who is determined to stay and fight for his place at Chelsea, might consider moving for European football opportunities if necessary.
Maresca highlighted the competitive squad, including players like Axel, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Wesley Fofana, as reasons for Chalobah’s exclusion.
The Chelsea lineup for the match features a 4-2-3-1 formation with key players like Romeo Lavia and Reece James returning from injuries. Christopher Nkunku starts in an advanced role, while young talent Tyrique George is positioned on the left wing.
New signing Tosin Adarabioyo is included in the defense, and Levi Colwill starts at left-back. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall misses out due to a knock.
As Chelsea’s pre-season progresses, they have matches lined up against Celtic, Club America, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Inter, offering Maresca ample opportunity to refine his squad.
The weather in Santa Clara is warm, which might influence the pace of the game. Fans can follow the live updates and coverage of the Chelsea vs. Wrexham game via Standard Sport’s blog.
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