Chelsea fans could be forgiven for viewing the upcoming 2024/25 Premier League season with more than a little trepidation.
With the latest sports betting odds rating Chelsea as the fourth favourites to win the title, expectations are understandably high at Stamford Bridge.
However, A 4-1 defeat in a pre-season friendly against Celtic highlighted the size of the task facing new manager Enzo Maresca this term.
Maresca’s comments after the dismal Celtic defeat will not have filled fans or sports bettors with confidence about Chelsea’s title chances.
“Off the ball we need to improve things,” Maresca said. “You can see sometimes we confuse when we need to play short and when we need to play a little bit longer but that is part of the process.
“We maintained a high line but when the ball is not under pressure, you need to drop. We are still confusing some things on the ball and off the ball. It is normal in this moment when we are trying to do something new.”
Chelsea dominated possession against Celtic, but sloppy defending hindered their hopes of securing a much-needed confidence booster ahead of the new season.
Maresca has insisted the Blues will be ready for their opening game against Manchester City, but fans will rightly be nervous about the season ahead.
One of the biggest concerns surrounds Maresca’s suitability for the managerial role, with the Italian yet to prove his credentials in the Premier League.
While he guided Leicester City back into the top flight at the first attempt last season, close inspection of his record paints a worrying picture.
The Foxes won just six of their final 14 games in the Championship, leaving many of their fans questioning his risky tactical methods.
Having built momentum towards the end of last season, Chelsea’s decision to replace Mauricio Pochettino with Maresca was a major surprise.
Co-owner Toddy Boehly has made a series of questionable decisions since acquiring the club and axing Pochettino may prove to…
Source link : https://www.talkchelsea.net/news/chelsea-must-mount-a-premier-league-title-challenge-this-season/
Author : Barry Bridges
Publish date : 2024-08-06 12:33:27
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