Manchester City secured their first pre-season victory with a convincing 4-2 win over Chelsea. Erling Haaland, who was uncertain to play due to injury, stole the show by bagging a remarkable hat-trick.
Despite missing 14 senior players from their US tour squad, City showcased a number of young talents, including Oscar Bobb, who also found the back of the net.
In contrast, Chelsea appeared shaky defensively, raising concerns for new manager Enzo Maresca as they prepare to face City again in their Premier League opener in two weeks.
The Blues struggled with their ball distribution from the back, frequently giving the ball away and creating their own problems. However, there were some bright spots, as substitutes Noni Madueke and Raheem Sterling both scored, providing a glimmer of hope amid the defeat.
When discussing Chelsea’s mistakes while playing out from the back in his post-match press conference, Man City boss Pep Guardiola said: “It’s happened due to the pitch conditions.
“At Stamford Bridge, this would not happen. Let me say this, I see what Enzo wants to do and I like it. And I don’t just say that because he’s my friend.”
The 44-year-old Italian head coach previously worked as an assistant to Guardiola at Man City. After that, he enjoyed huge success as the manager of Leicester City, who were promoted from the Championship last season.
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Maresca, meanwhile, acknowledged that there were still some positives to take away from his Chelsea team’s performance, despite their 4-2 loss to Manchester City. He noted that the pitch conditions contributed to several loose passes during the match.
The Chelsea boss said: “I don’t have any doubt in terms of the progress the team is doing at the moment.
“The mistake is part of the process. I knew City for many years, even in friendly games, they don’t concede chances or possession but in the first-half I don’t remember them making six or seven passes in a row. So that is a good thing.
“Sometimes when we say something it sounds like an excuse but for sure the pitch doesn’t help.
“This type of pitch slows down the ball. In this moment, we need to learn things. We need to learn when you concede one, you cannot concede another one. When we concede one it is the moment we need to become stronger to not concede another.”
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