“Remove him out of your plan” “Sell him before it’s too late” – John Mikel sends warning message to Enzo Maresca
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Chelsea’s Preseason Struggles Against Celtic
As part of their ongoing preseason tour in the United States, Chelsea suffered a 4-1 defeat against Celtic.
Tactical Adjustments Under Maresca
It seems that Chelsea’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, is facing challenges in getting the team to adapt to his tactics. Celtic effectively exploited Chelsea’s high defensive line, raising concerns. Despite this, Maresca remains optimistic that the team will find its form before the season opener against Manchester City.
Defensive Concerns
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has voiced his concerns regarding the team’s defensive lineup. He has advised Maresca to offload defender Benoit Badiashile, criticizing his performance as below Chelsea’s standards. Additionally, Mikel has urged the club to bring in two “world-class” center backs this summer to bolster the defense.
New Signing: Tosin Adarabioyo
In response to these concerns, Chelsea has secured Tosin Adarabioyo, a 26-year-old defender, on a free transfer from Fulham. However, Mikel believes that neither Badiashile nor Axel Disasi are ready to fill the gap left by veteran Thiago Silva, who is set to leave next season.
Mikel’s Recommendations
Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, Mikel emphasized the need for experienced center backs:
“Thiago Silva is leaving, we need a couple of centre-halves,” Mikel said. “I don’t think Benoit Badiashile is the guy for Chelsea, no. [Axel] Disasi, no. They’re still young players, they will develop. We need proven, two top centre-backs who will come in there and stabilize that back four. We need that. We need two world-class centre-halves.”
Looking Forward
As Chelsea continues their preseason, it remains to be seen how Maresca will address these defensive issues and integrate new signings to strengthen the squad.
