Chelsea vs Inter Milan. Friendly Match.
Stamford BridgeAttendance34,471.
Lesley Ugochukwu rescued Chelsea a late draw with Inter Milan in their final game of pre-season; Enzo Maresca's side conceded 13 times across six friendly matches; Pedro Neto was introduced to the Stamford Bridge crowd as the club's 10th summer signing
Sunday 11 August 2024 20:20, UK
Chelsea rescued a late 1-1 draw with Inter Milan in their final game of a rather underwhelming pre-season period, courtesy of a last minute Lesley Ugochukwu equaliser.
The leveller was scored on the stroke of full-time to atone for more lax defending, which saw Chelsea concede their 13th goal across six pre-season friendlies, something that new boss Enzo Maresca has already admitted is an area of concern.
Inter's opener was beautifully crafted, involving a surging run from Yann Bisseck, a deft pass from the left boot of Joaquin Correa and a thunderbolt finish from Marcus Thuram, with Chelsea guilty of allowing three players to carve through the heart of their defence relatively unopposed.
Maresca grew agitated as the game progressed, singling out Enzo Fernandez to relay instruction. He clapped the only meaningful Chelsea move of the first period with genuine enthusiasm, but Noni Madueke's cross towards Mykhailo Mudryk back post was met with a familiarly erratic attempt at goal.
Thuram was delivering a lesson in exactly what Chelsea lack - a definitive No 9 - prompting some half-time changes, which included Cole Palmer, getting his first minutes since returning from Euros duty, and Christopher Nkunku.
The latter nearly produced something spectacular 10 minutes into the half, denied by Yann Sommer, before Levi Colwill rattled the post as the hosts began dominating for the first time.
Positivity built, without ever really reaching a crescendo. Palmer was typically bright on the ball, while forgotten man Mudryk enjoyed a few useful touches but no end product. Nkunku went close a handful of times too, before Ugochukwu slammed home in the 90th minute from a poorly-defended corner.
Chelsea end their pre-season campaign with just one win - against Mexican side Club America - with plenty for Maresca to ponder before entertaining champions Manchester City in a week's time.
Just before kick off, Chelsea's PA announcer, prancing up and down the touchline, made a point of welcoming the club's latest recruits to Stamford Bridge. The list was, of course, long.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall got a mild cheer, as did Tosin, but as the catalogue continued for longer than perhaps it should, applause tailed off.
Football fans usually go nuts for new mega-money signings - less so at Chelsea. The transfer window redo is simply part and parcel of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake revolution. All very humdrum.
Enzo Maresca named a starting XI containing two summer additions (Dewsbury-Hall and Marc Guiu), backed up by a 14-player bench. It doesn't take a mathematician to work out that the Italian's squad is impossibly oversubscribed.
Come next weekend, when Chelsea meet Man City live on Sky Sports, the matchday contingent will have to be trimmed by five and that is before you consider Pedro Neto's involvement - signed for £54m and introduced to fans at half time.
It will also need to accommodate the return of captain Reece James from yet another injury setback. Just where all these players fit is surely Maresca's foremost and greatest challenge, and that's before a competitive ball is even kicked.
The wait is nearly over. Chelsea will kick off the new Premier League season at home to champions Manchester City next weekend, live on Sky Sports Super Sunday, kick-off 4.30pm.
That game is one of five matches live on Sky Sports on opening weekend, including Man United vs Fulham on Friday Night Football, West Ham vs Aston Villa on Saturday Night Football, Brentford vs Crystal Palace completes Super Sunday, before Leicester vs Tottenham round off the action on Monday Night Football.
