Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has suggested that he is ready to deploy a risk-and-reward strategy during his time at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues kicked off their pre-season tour of the United States on Wednesday night with a 2-2 draw against Wrexham in California.
Christopher Nkunku opened the scoring with 10 minutes of the first half remaining, before two goals in 13 second-half minutes turned the game in the League One side's favour.
However, their Premier League opponents were able to find a leveller during the closing stages, Lesley Ugochukwu calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner from the centre of the penalty area.
There were plenty of positives to take for Maresca and Chelsea, most notably Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia each coming through 45 minutes of action having missed all but one game of the 2023-24 campaign through serious injuries.
Nevertheless, Maresca inevitably faced questions over the goals that were conceded during the second half, both of them coming in scrappy circumstances.
Luke Bolton with his first goal for Wrexham 🤝 #CHEWRE pic.twitter.com/ZZ0b6cmwRO
— RobRyanRed - Wrexham AFC Podcast (@RobRyanRed) July 25, 2024
Maresca ready to concede goals?
Wrexham's first came from a low cross into the middle, the ball somehow finding Luke Bolton at the back post to convert from close range.
Meanwhile, the second was Chelsea's own doing, the ball being lost in-field and leaving an open space for Jack Marriott to advance towards goal and provide a clinical finish past goalkeeper Lucas Bergstrom.
Tracks back. Wins the tackle. Anticipates the pass. Finish.
— Fearless In Devotion- WREXHAM AFC podcast (@fearlessidzine) July 25, 2024
Jack Marriott 🤌pic.twitter.com/fR1lWPCL88
From a Chelsea standpoint, neither goal made for pretty viewing, yet Maresca took a balanced view when being quizzed by reporters at a press conference after the game
As quoted by football.london, the former Leicester City boss said: "The first goal is not from playing out from the back. The second, yes. But the first came from one bounce, we lose a duel and then we concede the goal.
"For sure, we are going to concede goals this season playing out from the back. Hopefully, not too many. It is one of the risks that you have trying to build from behind."
When asked if repetition is key, he added: "Absolutely. I have no doubt. I think you are going to concede in different ways, so you need to decide in which way you need to concede a goal.
"Sometimes teams that try to build from the back concede goals but I think you are going to score more than you concede."
© Reuters
What now for Chelsea?
Maresca gave the vast majority of his travelling squad 45 minutes apiece against Wrexham. Carney Chukwuemeka came through 90 minutes and could plausibly be rested for the next fixture.
That is scheduled to come on Saturday night when Chelsea square off against a Celtic side that got the better of Manchester City earlier this week.
Showdowns with Club America, Manchester City and Real Madrid will conclude Chelsea's Stateside trip before they return to London to face Inter Milan on August 11.
Darren Plant
