Chelsea FC lost 3-2 to Real Madrid after a poor first half showing in an International Champions Cup match on Saturday. The result only became respectable after most of the Madrid starters were substituted.
Here are four things we learnt from Chelsea's loss at Michigan stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
- The defense is still shambolic.
The type of shambolic defending witnessed in the first half of the game is reminiscent of what we saw throughout the entire campaign of last season. Marcelo sliced through the defense like hot knife in butter to score his second goal of the night. Such kind of defending will never bring silverware to Stamford Bridge.
- Eden Hazard could play as one of two strikers.
Eden Hazard is clearly intent on getting last season's disappointments behind him and letting his football do the talking. The former PFA player of the year award winner chipped in two goals with both looking like a striker's finish.
With manager Antonio Conte opting for a 4-4-2 or 4-2-4 formation, he will surely thrive in any of the roles upfront either as a supporting striker or as the main striker.
- Diego Costa injury problems still persist.
After being left out of the squad that competed at the Euros for Spain, the striker had the whole summer free of football but it appears that Spanish international problems are deeper than we think. Nagging injuries have prevented from taking part fully in Chelsea's pre-season schedules.
Could this be the trend when the season eventually kicks-off?
- Team yet to get Conte's football philosophy.
Antonio Conte's philosophy about football is centered on teamwork, compactness and hardwork. These are the traits he built into the Italian National team that lost in the quarterfinals of the Euros to Germany. It appears that the players are still coming to grips with his ideas as none of it was evident in the loss to Real Madrid especially in the first half.
Conte has said that for Chelsea to become Champions again they need to play as a team on and off the pitch.
Click play to view highlights of the match.
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