Chelsea defender Levi Colwill has admitted that the side has made a lot of mistakes during their pre-season tour of the USA
The Academy product, who has featured to a large extent, believes the team will continue to improve under new manager Enzo Maresca before the start of the new Premier League season.
Chelsea started our summer tour of the USA with a 2-2 draw against Wrexham and a 4-1 defeat to Celtic. Other results include a 3-0 win over Club America and another 4-2 defeat at the hands of Premier League champions Manchester City.
However, Colwill is confident the club is moving in the right direction despite the results. To that effect, Chelsea tickets will also see a surge in demand for the 2024/25 season.
Colwill admits Chelsea’s mistakes
“The gaffer has a strict strategy but all players understand what he wants to get. Each day we are learning more and more and taking it on,” Colwill told reporters before the win over Club America.
“From game one onto game two, you could see the improvements even if the scoreline did not reflect that, but that is what pre-season is for. We are going to keep building in the right way.
“There have been mistakes but that’s what pre-season is for. We are learning from those mistakes,” the Cobham graduate said.
“There is a whole different approach which we need to learn but it is exciting and we are getting there. Sooner or later we will get there and that is going to be before the season starts.”
Enzo Maresca: ‘Mistakes are part of the process’
Maresca, speaking after the side’s defeat to Manchester City in Ohio, said: ‘I have no doubts about the progress this team is making at this moment. Mistakes are part of the process.
‘I have known City for many years and even in friendly games, they don’t concede possession to the opposition, don’t concede many chances and they have long [spells of] possession. Thinking about the first half, I don’t remember them making six or seven passes in a row, so that was good from us off the ball.
‘On the ball, we had many long [spells of] possession, some good chances, and – I don’t know but I think – we had about 60 per cent possession in the first half.
‘It doesn’t matter that it was a friendly game and they didn’t have six or seven of their starting players missing, this is the analysis of this moment. In any game, if you concede two goals [early on], it is not good.’
The former Manchester City assistant went on to describe the loss to the Premier League champions, calling it a strange game.
‘It was a very strange game to be honest. I planned the game and I think the plan was good in terms of the way we wanted to attack and the way we wanted to defend.
‘First half, less the first five minutes when we conceded two goals, the team was good but it was a very strange game because you plan the game in one way and then you concede two goals which completely changes the dynamic of the game.
‘What can I say about the first half? The team on the ball was good, creating some chances, and finding the right players and the right spaces.
‘I think we lacked some quality in the last third, especially in the one-v-ones on both sides.’
Gary Cahill speaks on what Chelsea players will take from pre-season
To back up what Colwill and Maresca said, Gary Cahill – who is currently with the team as one of the Blues’ ambassadors on the tour – discussed the importance of preseason with the club’s official website.
Cahill explained: ‘Pre-season helps you sharpen the tools and get back to the level of fitness you need to be at. It is not just about pure fitness, it is about things like getting your eye back in.
‘The lads nowadays, especially the ones playing at the international level, don’t get much time off over the summer so you don’t lose a huge amount of fitness over three weeks off but what I used to lose was that sharpness. The on-pitch decision-making and things like that.
‘Then if you have a new manager, it is about trying to adapt to a new style of play. So two things really; working on your team shape and then trying to get back up to speed in time for the start of the season.’
And Cahill added: ‘Pre-season is a chance for the head coach to work with the whole group at once to get his ideas across. There is a lot he can gain from pre-season and it gives him a chance to get to know the players as well. It is a big part of the season.
‘Pre-season is a great time for the new signings too because they can integrate with the squad. You are spending all day together at the hotel so it is a great time to have the squad all together.
‘Likewise, with the new head coach and all of his staff, it is a chance for them to pass on everything they want to ahead of the new season.’
With new staff and players arriving this summer, the former England international added that the tour to the USA provides the squad with a great opportunity to build a sense of togetherness.
‘You are spending every day together for two and a half weeks, so you have to work hard on the training ground and then when you get the odd evening off, it is a chance to maybe go for a meal together or walk around town together and it all helps integrate the squad.
‘Young players sometimes come on tour who you maybe don’t know personally and you usually have some new signings so it is an important time of the season.’
Chelsea will be looking to do better than they did last term but so far, there is nothing to exactly suggest that will happen.
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