Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea are gearing up to face Serie A champions Inter Milan in a pre-season friendly at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The home side clinched a sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season, amassing 63 points from 38 games. Meanwhile, the visitors dominated the Italian top flight, claiming the title with an impressive 94 points from 38 matches.
Leicester City boss Maresca took over from Pochettino, promising an attractive style of play reminiscent of Pep Guardiola. However, based on their pre-season results, fans may need to exercise patience as the players adjust to Maresca’s system.
Chelsea has only managed to secure one victory in their five friendly matches so far, suffering a 4-2 defeat to Manchester City on August 3. Maresca himself acknowledged their defensive vulnerabilities and publicly announced his efforts to address the issue by positioning the defensive line deeper.
On the other hand, the Nerazzurri dominated the league last season, finishing a staggering 19 points ahead of second-placed AC Milan and a remarkable 41 points clear of title-winners Napoli from the 2022-23 season. Simone Inzaghi’s side showcased their prowess by scoring 89 goals and conceding just 22, making them the best offensive and defensive team in the division.
Inter also exhibited their strength away from home, suffering only one defeat on the road in Serie A. Despite their impressive league performance, Inzaghi’s team has won three, drawn one, and lost one of their five pre-season fixtures, including a 2-0 loss to Al Ittihad most recently on August 7.
This clash between Chelsea and Inter Milan is eagerly anticipated, with both teams looking to fine-tune their skills ahead of the upcoming season. Stay tuned for an exciting battle on the pitch at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
