Chelsea wrapped up their pre-season with a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan on Sunday. Enzo Maresca won’t be pleased with his side’s results over the summer, but the match fitness is invaluable.
Pre-season isn’t a predictor into how a club will start the campaign, as squads are still being built. But Chelsea will hope for more consistency when the 2024/25 Premier League season begins.
Chelsea’s pre-season results
- July 25: Chelsea 2-2 Wrexham
Maresca’s first game as Chelsea manager ended in a 2-2 draw against Wrexham at Levi’s Stadium on Thursday.
Christopher Nkunku gave Chelsea the lead in the 35th minute, ensuring the Blues went into the break ahead. The game would turn on its head, however, as Wrexham came from behind to lead.
Luke Bolton equalised for Wrexham just before the hour mark, and Jack Marriot put them ahead after 70 minutes. Chelsea salvaged a draw through Lesley Ugochukwu in the 82nd minute, but Maresca will have a lot to ponder.
- July 27: Chelsea 1-4 Celtic
Chelsea were thrashed by Celtic at the Notre Dame University Stadium on Saturday, conceding two goals in each half.
Matt O’Riley gave Celtic the lead after 18 minutes before Kyogo Furuhashi double their advantage after half an hour. In the second half, Luis Palma made it 3-0 and Mikey Johnston scored their fourth just minutes later.
Chelsea scored a consolation goal as Christopher Nkunku netted from the spot, but it wasn’t a good performance.
- August 1: Chelsea 3-0 Club America
Chelsea got their first and only win of pre-season against Club America at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Christopher Nkunku scored from the spot after two minutes. Chelsea doubled their advantage from a Cristian Calderón own goal midway through the first half. And with 10 minutes to go in the second half, Chelsea scored a third through Noni Madueke, burying from the spot.
- August 3: Man City 4-2 Chelsea
Chelsea were thrashed by Manchester City at Ohio Stadium, conceding four goals in 55 minutes, but they showed some spirit to keep fighting late on.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring from the spot after three minutes and then immediately doubled their advantage. City went into the break 2-0 up and took 10 minutes in the second half to bag another double.
Oscar Bobb scored after 54 minutes and Haaland completed his hat-trick a minute later, giving Chelsea a mountain to climb. They did respond through Raheem Sterling against his old club inside of an hour. Noni Madueke got a late consolation in the 89th minute to tidy up the score somewhat too.
- August 7: Real Madrid 2-1 Chelsea
Chelsea lost 2-1 to Real Madrid at the Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, falling to two first-half goals.
Real dominated early on and finally got their reward through Dani Ceballos after 18 minutes. He slid home from close range after Lucas Vasquez’s shot deflected into his path.
Minutes later, Real doubled their advantage through Brahim Diaz. He latched onto a through ball, round the goalkeeper and finished into an empty net.
Chelsea halved the deficit through Noni Madueke, heading home from a brilliant cross, but it wasn’t enough.
- August 11: Chelsea 1-1 Inter Milan
Marcus Thuram gave Inter the lead after 25th minutes, finishing into the top corner after being put through on goal. Lesley Ugochukwu equalised in injury time with a close-range volley after Inter failed to clear their lines.
Chelsea begin their league campaign to Manchester City on Sunday, August 18.
