Chelsea supporters got their first look at a side managed by Enzo Maresca last night as pre-season got officially underway.
While the 2-2 draw against Wrexham will look underwhelming on paper, there are no doubt some positives the Italian can take from the outing.
He got a good look at a large amount of his squad in a number of positions. Ben Chilwell was even operating as a centre-back at times.
Maresca certainly has a quality squad available for selection, with some of his top performers still to join following their exploits at international tournaments.
Maresca impressed by Chelsea squad
It looks as if this was something he already knew though. He claimed in an interview with ESPN that the squad at his disposal was the main reason he decided to take the job.
He said: “100% the squad [made me want to join Chelsea]. It’s a fantastic squad. I’m completely sure the squad is fantastic, full of talent. I really like to work with young players because they’re open minded and want to learn. The club is a huge club.”
It is not long before Chelsea fans can see their club in action again, with them facing Celtic in just a couple of days’ time.
The game will bring an opportunity for some of the players who did not hit their usual heights to bounce back and make a statement to the new manager.
Carney Chukwuemeka looking to improve
One of those is surely Carney Chukwuemeka, who was the only player to make 90 minutes last night.
However, Chukwuemeka was by no means at his best in this game, despite the fact he looked to be playing in a number 8 role which suited his skills perfectly.
This is in comparison to Christopher Nkunku starting their alongside him, who took the headlines with a well taken goal in the first half.
His place in the side will likely soon be under threat from Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, who missed the first friendly with a small injury.
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