Enzo Maresca “very happy” as Chelsea draw in opening pre-season game

Enzo Maresca optimistic after first game as Chelsea coach

Enzo Maresca was in high spirits despite Chelsea failing to win the first game of the pre-season, which was also his first game in charge of the Blues.

Chelsea drew the first game of their US pre-season tour 2-2 against League One side Wrexham, with Frenchmen Christopher Nkunku and Lesley Ugochukwu scoring their two goals.

After the game, Maresca had this to say to Chelsea’s in-house media team:

“I was very happy in the first half and also in the second half. It is a shame that we conceded the two goals but overall, when you think about players like Wes [Fofana] who played 45 minutes after a year out and different situations, [I am pleased].

“The result for us is always important but in this moment, we have to judge different things so I am very happy with the performance.”

Up next for Chelsea is a game against last season’s Scottish Premiership champions, Celtic.

Maresca has arrived at Chelsea on the back of Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino‘s dismissal at the end of last season, one of the reasons for which was the added control he felt he required in the player acquisition process going forward.

The 44-year-old Italian has signed a five-year deal, with the option to extend his stay for another year.

Trying times ahead

Usually, pre-season games ought not to be taken seriously, though Maresca is about to find just how hot the fire for his baptism at Stamford Bridge is going to be.

At a club like Chelsea, even pre-season games count for something. And then, this is modern-day Chelsea we are talking about, who under the new regime have gone through four different managers in the last two seasons and spent north of £1 billion in player acquisitions.

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The current Chelsea do not know what patience is, and Maresca is going to find things very, very hard despite the five-year contract and his upbeat attitude to keep the noise level down both inside and outside the club if the results don’t follow soon—even in pre-season.