Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed confidence ahead of the new campaign after a successful pre-season that saw his team crowned Club World Cup champions.
The Blues clinched the Club World Cup in July with a 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain. In a commanding performance on Sunday, Chelsea finished their pre-season with a 4-1 victory over AC Milan at Stamford Bridge.
New signings, including forward Liam Delap and winger Joao Pedro, were both on the scoresheet against a 10-man Milan side, who had defender Andrei Coubis sent off in the 18th minute. Maresca praised his team’s performance, particularly their intensity before the red card.
“I think the performance was very good until the red card,” Maresca said. “We started the way we wanted – intense and with a high tempo on and off the ball.”
He acknowledged that the red card changed the game’s dynamic but remained happy with the result. “The red card changed a little bit the game but it’s also normal as Milan started pre-season 40 days ago and this was their sixth friendly.”
Chelsea had previously defeated Bundesliga runners-up Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 in their first pre-season friendly on Friday.
“It’s our second one (pre-season game). But overall I’m very happy, and now we start the Premier League,” the Italian coach added. “I’m confident in general and excited. We have another long season ahead and we are going to try to do our best.”
Joao Pedro, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion, has continued his excellent form, scoring his fourth goal in as many pre-season games for the Blues. He was also full of praise for his teammate Liam Delap, who scored twice against Milan.
“I don’t want to say competition, I think it is very good for Chelsea to have both strikers at a good level,” Pedro told Channel 5. “In the last game, he did not score. Today, he scored two goals. I am very happy for him.”
Chelsea’s Premier League campaign begins on Sunday, August 17, when they host newly-crowned FA Community Shield winners Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge
