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The Blues boss is certain that his side are improving despite a 4-2 defeat by Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens on Saturday.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is staying calm despite his side’s 4-2 loss against Manchester City on Saturday.
Man City vs Chelsea
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The Blues trailed 2-0 after Erling Haaland punished mistakes in the game’s opening five minutes and the same happened after the break as Oscar Bobb and the Norwegian netted a minute apart as the Cityzens opened up a four-goal advantage.
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Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke netted for Chelsea to halve the deficit and make the final score more respectable.
What Maresca said after Chelsea’s loss to Man City
The loss means Chelsea have claimed just one win in the off-season, following a draw against Wrexham, heavy loss to Celtic and a comfortable victory over CF America.
However, Maresca believes progress has been made in pre-season.
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“I have no doubts about the progress this team is making in this moment. Mistakes are part of the process,” said the Chelsea head coach.
“I have known City for many years and even in friendly games, they don’t concede possession to the opposition, don’t concede many chances and they have long [spells of] possession. Thinking about the first half, I don’t remember them making six or seven passes in a row, so that was good from us off the ball.
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“On the ball, we had many long [spells of] possession, some good chances and – I don’t know but I think – we had about 60 per cent possession in the first half.
“It doesn’t matter that it was a friendly game and they didn’t have six or seven of their starting players missing, this is the analysis of this moment. In any game, if you concede two goals [early on], it is not good.”
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The Italian shed more light on the frustration felt at conceding two early goals and the strike's consequence on the team's approach.
“It was a very strange game, to be honest. I planned the game and I think the plan was good in terms of the way we wanted to attack and the way we wanted to defend,” continued Maresca.
“First half, less the first five minutes when we conceded two goals, the team was good but it was a very strange game because you plan the game in one way and then you concede two goals which completely changes the dynamic of the game.
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“What can I say about the first half? The team on the ball was good, creating some chances, finding the right players and the right spaces.
“I think we lacked some quality in the last third, especially in the one-v-ones on both sides.”
What comes next?
Chelsea’s next pre-season match sees them take on European Champions Real Madrid at Bank of America Stadium on August 7.
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