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The Blues face Pep Guardiola’s men on the opening weekend, and an ex-midfielder thinks the West London club could be disgraced at Stamford Bridge.
Former Everton and Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchinson thinks Enzo Maresca could be in for a long season at Chelsea if the Blues do not cut out their individual errors.
Chelsea’s torrid United States Tour
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The Blues struggled in four of their five pre-season matches, twice conceding two against Wrexham and in a recent loss to Real Madrid while letting in four on two occasions in defeats by Celtic and Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side.
Maresca strangely blamed last season’s defensive behaviour for the team’s ongoing woes at the back with the West London club just over a week from welcoming Guardiola’s men to Stamford Bridge on August 18.
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What Hutchinson said about Chelsea struggles
Speaking on ESPN, the retired midfielder criticised Chelsea’s players for their gaffes and reckons it could be detrimental in their season opener against the Cityzens in gameweek one.
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“The goals they are conceding are a worry,” said Hutchinson. “If there’s no pressure on the ball, you can’t play a high line.
“Man City will be desperate that they play a high line because their runners like Erling Haaland et cetera will all spin in behind.
“When I look at Man City, there are about seven or eight players that haven’t joined up yet because of the Euros or Copa America. This Chelsea squad is probably close to full strength, so I worry for Chelsea thinking ‘That’s nearly your best squad and you’re making such individual mistakes.’”
What comes next?
Chelsea take on Serie A defending champions Inter Milan in their final pre-season match on August 11 before welcoming Man City a week later.
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