Maresca has won only one game out 5 friendlies
Chelsea's final pre-season test before the 2024-25 Premier League season kicks off will see them face Serie A champions Inter Milan at Stamford Bridge on August 11.
The Blues, who finished sixth in the Premier League last season, are under the new stewardship of Enzo Maresca following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino.
Maresca, previously with Leicester City, is known for his attacking style, yet Chelsea's pre-season has shown significant defensive frailties.
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They have only managed one win in five friendlies, including a recent 4-2 defeat to Manchester City.
Chelsea will be missing key players such as Axel Disasi due to injury, while Nicolas Jackson's availability is uncertain.
Both Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella might also miss out due to a lack of match fitness.
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On the positive side, the potential addition of Pedro Neto could boost their attacking options.
Inter Milan, fresh from a dominant Serie A title-winning campaign, have had a solid pre-season, winning three out of five matches.
However, they did suffer a 2-0 defeat against Al Ittihad. Manager Simone Inzaghi's squad will also be missing some key players, including Stefan de Vrij and potentially Mehdi Taremi, Piotr Zielinski, and Tajon Buchanan, who are sidelined with injuries.
Given Chelsea's defensive issues and the fact that Inter Milan has been both solid offensively and defensively, the Italian side might exploit these vulnerabilities.
With Chelsea still adjusting to Maresca’s tactics and missing several key players, Inter Milan could take advantage.