FANS hoping for a little more fight from this Chelsea side this year got exactly what they wanted just two minutes into pre-season.
Levi Colwill was involved in a heated bust-up with Wrexham’s James McClean just moments into the California friendly which kicked off the Blues’ American tour.
The Chelsea defender reacted to a robust challenge from the former Ireland international, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and sparking a mass brawl at the Levi’s Stadium.
Despite a fiery start, Enzo Maresca‘s opening game hardly erupted – with some promising signs in a steady but encouraging first half before a rush of questions arrived with 10 changes and two Wrexham goals after the break.
Christopher Nkunku, hoping for a far better trip to America than the one which left him with a knee injury a year ago, scored the first half opener as Maresca’s style was displayed for the first time.
Captain Reece James impressed in a new role, moving into midfield from right-back with the new boss keen for his side to swamp the middle and dominate.
There were encouraging signs of a partnership forming with Romeo Lavia, the midfielder who played just 32 Premier League minutes due to injury last season.
But 10 changes from Maresca at the break, leaving just Carney Chukwuemeka on for the second half, showed there is still plenty of work to be done to implement this radical change.
Malo Gusto was tried in the inverted role for the second half and did not look comfortable.
Having looked calm and confident on the ball, the Blues were erratic after the break – handing possession over to the League One side far too easily.
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Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Marcus Bettinelli, Eddie Beach, Lucas Bergstrom.
Defenders: Reece James, Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Romeo Lavia.
Midfielders: Lesley Ugochukwu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Andrey Santos.
Forwards: Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Armando Broja, Tyrique George, Marc Guiu, Angelo.
Rested: Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer.
Reported injured: Petrovic
Left out: Trevoh Chalobah, Alfie Gilchrist, Malang Sarr, Cesare Casadei, Leo Castledine, Deivid Washington, Diego Moreira, Omari Kellyman, Caleb Wiley, Tino Anjorin, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mason Burstow, David Datro Fofana, Bashir Humphreys, Romelu Lukaku, Alex Matos, Gabriel Slonina, Harvey Vale, Dujuan Richards, Kiano Dyer, Billy Gee, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Zak Sturge, Jimi Tauriainen, Travis Akomeah, Ato Ampah, Somto Boniface, Luke Campbell, Brodi Hughes, Harrison McMahon, Donnell McNeilly, Leo Cardoso, Max Merrick, Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Richard Olise, Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Frankie Runham, Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny, Zain Silcott-Duberry, Ronnie Stutter, Shaun Wade, Kaiden Wilson.
Both of the Welsh club’s goals came from Chelsea struggling to keep hold of the ball.
The first was bagged by Luke Bolton at the far post after Lesley Ugochukwu has lost the ball before Jack Marrioitt finished superbly across goal having won possession from Josh Achaepong.
But Maresca insisted he was still pleased with what he saw in sunny Santa Clara.
He said: “I’m very happy about the performance in general.
“In this moment, we started just two weeks ago, it’s important that us as the staff and the people can start to see the identity of the team. Tonight it was quite clear.
“For sure we are going to add more solutions. Analysing just the timing we started two weeks ago, I’m very happy.
“I was happy first-half, also second-half but we conceded two goals.”
Asked about the manner of the two Wrexham goals, he added: “The first goal is not from playing out from the back. The second, yes.
“But the first came from one bounce, we lose a duel and then we concede the goal.
“For sure, we are going to concede goals this season playing out from the back.
“Hopefully, not too many. It is one of the risks that you have trying to build from behind.”
The major boost for Maresca was not only seeing Nkunku start strong after a terribly unlucky first year in West London, but also Lavia and Wesley Fofana – another who has been through hell with his fitness, get going.
He said: “They are very important.
“At this moment for them, it is important to get minutes, to use every training session.
“I’m very happy, especially for them.
“For one year without getting minutes, it is difficult mentally. They need a boost, energy and 45 minutes is going to help both of them.”
