The Enzo Maresca era got off to an underwhelming start on a night that showed the new Chelsea boss faces many of the roadblocks that slowed progress under Mauricio Pochettino.
Chelsea laboured to a draw against League One side Wrexham in Santa Clara, needing a late goal from Lesley Ugochukwu to avoid defeat in the first match of their US tour.
Maresca will have been encouraged by the way his players adapted to his new tactical system for parts of the first half, but, after 10 changes at the break, some of the shine faded.
And several issues that dogged the Blues under Pochettino bared their teeth again, as both Wrexham goals came from inaccuracy in playing out from the back.
Maresca will know Chelsea struggled at times last season in crisp, considered build-up play. He will also be well aware that the ripple effect of that possession problem was often a weakness in dealing with opposition counter attacks. Under Pochettino, Chelsea struggled to realign in defensive shape when caught in possession. Both of those afflictions caught them cold again in the California heat.
It is still very early days for Maresca, and there are going to be teething problems when attempting to change style to a more possession-based game. Vowing to stick to his approach, Maresca said: “Sometimes teams that try to build from the back concede goals, but I think you are going to score more goals than you concede.
“For sure, we did many things we can improve, but we started just two weeks ago. Tonight was important to start seeing the identity of the team, and the identity is there.”
One of the key tactical shifts is Maresca’s use of inverted full-backs. Reece James and Malo Gusto were given 45 minutes each at right-back as they learn the new role.
James looked comfortable and composed when stepping off the flank and into the base of midfield, while Gusto looked less assured in the second half.
Maresca may be left to ponder how to offset the loss of an overlapping James or Gusto on the right wing should it be the right-back that continues to invert.
Chelsea will hope Christopher Nkunku’s goal, and promising display, is a sign of things to come, after his first season at the club was disrupted by an injury in pre-season last summer.
There were also appearances for Wesley Fofana, who missed the whole of last season through injury, and Romeo Lavia, who played just 32 minutes in the last campaign.
Maresca said: “They are both very important. At this moment for them, it is important to get minutes, to use every training session.
“For one year without getting minutes, it is difficult mentally. They need a boost, energy and 45 minutes is going to help both of them.
“Like I said, the result for us is always important, but in this moment, also we need to judge different things.”
