This led to a number of dangerous turnovers in their own half, including for Haaland’s opener. Maresca’s insistence on playing this way will take time to bed in and it will be interesting to see if he adapts his approach against lesser opponents in the coming weeks.
The Italian has been clear in his desire to play a high-pressing game and a high line, but the risk of being caught out by a team as ruthless as City is a real one. This is a work in progress but one that will need to be refined quickly if Chelsea are to challenge for major honours this season.
Overall, it was a promising start for Chelsea under Maresca, despite the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City. There were glimpses of potential and some positive individual performances, such as Lavia and Fernandez. The team will need to work on implementing Maresca’s tactical instructions more effectively in the future, but there were certainly some encouraging signs for the young squad.
As for Gallagher, his future remains uncertain, but it seems that he could still have a role to play at Chelsea depending on how things unfold with Atletico Madrid. It will be interesting to see how the situation develops in the coming weeks.
Overall, Chelsea’s midfield issues were highlighted by Kovacic’s impressive display for Manchester City. Despite the high cost of Chelsea’s midfield trio, it was a former player who stood out on the pitch. Kovacic’s performance in the absence of Rodri showcased his quality and importance to City’s midfield.
On the other hand, Nicolas Jackson struggled to find the net for Chelsea, with his offside positioning costing the team a potential equalizer. Micah Richards pointed out Jackson’s need to improve in key moments and become a more clinical striker.
Despite Chelsea’s efforts, they were unable to break through City’s defense and ultimately fell short in their quest for parity. With just two shots on target and a superior xG, Chelsea will need to work on their attacking efficiency moving forward.