Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has identified the early goals conceded as the turning point in their 4-2 pre-season friendly loss to Manchester City. Erling Haaland’s quick-fire brace, which included a penalty, set the tone for the match.
Maresca emphasized the need for his team to learn from their mistakes and become stronger after conceding a goal. He stated that conceding multiple goals in quick succession is a pattern that needs to be addressed.
Despite the disappointing start, Maresca praised his team’s performance in the first half, aside from the initial five minutes. He acknowledged that conceding two goals changed the dynamic of the game and made it challenging for Chelsea to recover.
The loss highlights Chelsea’s ongoing pre-season struggles, and Maresca will be looking for his team to learn from their mistakes and improve their defensive solidity ahead of the new season.