Maresca Points to Defensive Legacy from Pochettino Era After Chelsea's 2-1 Defeat

In a candid post-match interview with SkySports following Chelsea's 2-1 loss to Real Madrid, head coach Enzo Maresca reflected on the defensive challenges that continue to plague his team. When asked about the high defensive line, Maresca responded, "It's a habit. We are not working on the defensive line so high; it's a habit I don't know from last year or years ago. We are trying to drop a little bit our defensive line, no more than 4-5 meters, to have some advantage and don't concede the ball behind. Last year many goals were conceded like that. I hope we can solve this very soon."

Chelsea conceded 63 goals in the Premier League last season, with only eight teams conceding more, highlighting a significant area for improvement as they prepare for the upcoming season. Maresca's comments suggest that remnants of previous tactical approaches are still affecting the team's defensive solidity, and addressing these issues is a priority moving forward.

Enzo Maresca addresses Chelsea's defensive habits from last season after 2-1 loss to Real Madrid. Read his thoughts on improving the backline.