Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said his team “will concede goals this season playing from the back” after two defensive errors in the 2-2 draw with Wrexham in his first game in charge.
Midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu scored an 82nd-minute equalizer in Santa Clara, California, canceling out two second-half goals from the League One side.
Christopher Nkunku’s neat finish in the box opened the scoring in the 35th minute of Chelsea’s opening friendly on their pre-season tour of the United States.
But Wrexham took a surprise lead after both teams made big changes at half-time, with Luke Bolton and Jack Marriott scoring after errors.
The defensive errors were part of a poor second-half performance, with Chelsea adapting to Maresca’s possession-based approach.
Wrexham impressed – earning a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on Saturday at the half-empty Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers.
It is the Welsh club’s second consecutive pre-season tour of the USA capitalizing on its popularity under co-owners, Hollywood actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, with Phil Parkinson’s team preparing for third-tier football for the first time since 2005.
Maresca was asked about conceding goals through his playing philosophy, which included more patience in defense and up front.
“I hope not many. It’s one of the risks you take when you try to build from behind.”
And the 44-year-old former Leicester manager said he would “absolutely” continue with his style, adding: “I have no doubt. I think you’re going to concede goals in different ways, so you need to decide which way you need to concede a goal. .
“Sometimes teams that try to build from the back concede goals, but I think you will score more than you concede.
“We certainly did a lot of things that we can improve, but we only started two weeks ago. Tonight was important to start seeing the identity of the team and the identity is there.”
The match started in lively fashion, with Levi Colwill and James McClean escaping red cards after an early defeat.
Reece James hit the post with a free-kick and produced a series of dangerous corners in the first half as Chelsea led 1-0 at half-time.
But in the second half, Ugochukwu failed to clear Seb Revan’s cross, which was deflected by Bolton at the far post.
A mistake from Josh Acheampong saw Marriott hit a stunning low strike to give Wrexham a shock lead. Marriott then saw another shot well saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Lucas Bergstrom in the second half.
Chelsea’s equalizer came from clever play involving substitutes Angelo Gabriel, Armando Broja and Ugochukwu, who made up for his earlier error by finishing with his left foot to level the match.
‘Clear identity and we will add solutions’
Maresca gave a balanced assessment of the performance, saying: “At this point, we only started two weeks ago, it is important that we, as a team and as people, can start to see the identity of the team.
“We will definitely add more solutions.”
In the first half, Chelsea used Reece James as an inverted full-back, advancing into midfield. Maresca added: “We try to build with three and two. First part with James inside and second part with Malo [Gusto] inside.
“It doesn’t matter the level of the opponent; when they sit back with 11 players behind the ball, it’s always difficult to find space and the solutions are not easy.”
There were appearances from Wesley Fofana, who missed the entire 2023-24 campaign due to a long-term injury, and Romeo Lavia, who managed just 32 minutes last season.
Maresca said: “Both are very important. Right now for them it’s important to get minutes, enjoy every training session. Spending a year without getting minutes is difficult mentally. They need drive, energy and 45 minutes will help them both.
“As I said, the result for us is always important, but at this moment we also need to judge different things.”
The Blues will face Scottish champions Celtic at Notra Dame on Saturday night (Sunday morning BST) as Maresca continues to learn about his team. “Tonight the goal was to give everyone 45 minutes. It’s too early to think about the first XI.
“Also, because we have four or five players who are not with us. It was important to see the team with a clear identity and I think it was there.”
