There have been two dominant storylines forward of the primary massive recreation of the English Premier League season. Enzo Maresca was making his debut with a head-to-head in opposition to Pep Guardiola, a coach he assisted within the triple-winning 2022-23 marketing campaign.
However there was a giant distinction between the 2 groups heading into a brand new season. Manchester Metropolis got here off after a report fourth successive league title. In the meantime, instability continues to shake the membership from West London.
Will Maresca’s expertise with Pep make a distinction or is it going to be easy-peasy for Man Metropolis?
Chelsea fall quick regardless of a couple of positives
Whereas the previous Leicester Metropolis coach had Chelsea play a affected person possession-based type, it’s at all times going to be an upheaval activity to upset Man Metropolis. And that feeling additional clouds the sport as soon as Erling Haaland opened the rating in his one centesimal look for the membership.
Chelsea stored their achieved guests at bay till their ex-midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who performed a giant half in Metropolis coping with out Rodri’s presence in midfield, sealed three factors with a superb strike.
That prompted an early exit from Todd Boehly from the VIP stands. Chelsea’s notorious proprietor might nonetheless be energetic within the remaining weeks of a busy switch window. As revealed by Maresca himself, there isn’t any rapid strain set by the upper bosses relating to this season.
This might give them the much-needed stability that was missing at Stamford Bridge since its heydays. Together with his former acquaintance, Pep confronted seven Chelsea coaches in his 9 visits to the bottom.
However, from Chelsea’s viewpoint, some issues made this particular expertise completely different. Maresca fielded the second-youngest XI within the Premier League period. Romeo Lavia’s long-awaited beginning debut was another excuse to be hopeful after the Belgian displayed a composed exhibiting.
With all 4 substitutes newcomers, Maresca should make extra massive selections sooner or later. The Italian was already at it when he not noted Raheem Sterling from the squad that performed his ex-club.
Nonetheless, they nonetheless want a greater menace in entrance of objective. Nicolas Jackson had a irritating evening with the same old shortcomings nullifying his hardworking efficiency. In the long run, the quite a few half-hearted penalty shouts introduced Chelsea’s hopeful moments at getting again into the sport.
As for Man Metropolis, regardless of solely enjoying the first-half, their solely new signing Savio loved a profitable begin to life in England. It was additionally a welcome return to enterprise as common on the Bridge after a chaotic 4-4 draw final season.
What’s subsequent for the groups?
Chelsea’s subsequent recreation will see them host Swiss facet Servette within the first leg of European Convention League qualifiers on Thursday. On the second matchday of the Premier League season, their most-expensive decide Pedro Neto will return to Molineux for the journey to Wolves.
Newly-promoted Ipswich City are Manchester Metropolis’s first opponent at Etihad Stadium this season. Subsequent month, Guardiola’s troops face a well-recognized foe with Arsenal’s journey to Manchester. Chelsea don’t have any encounter in opposition to a standard top-six membership till mid-October.
Earlier than the switch window closes, BlueCo set its sights on finishing additional signings, together with Joao Felix and Victor Osimhen. Oscar Bobb’s unlucky harm might imply the champions including an attacking outlet to their star-studded facet.
PHOTOS: IMAGO
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