While results matter very little at this stage, Enzo Maresca will be keen to oversee a victory in Chelsea’s third outing of their pre-season tour against Club America.
The Italian’s tenure hasn’t got off to the brightest of starts out in the United States with Celtic putting the Blues to the sword in Indiana. While Chelsea were able to create a handful of chances of their own, Maresca’s side were ruthlessly exposed in transition and guilty of making errors in the build-up amid a 4-1 defeat.
Their tour started with an uninspiring 2-2 draw against League One outfit Wrexham, who they thrashed 5-0 in pre-season last summer.
Chelsea are taking on a Club America side that have just started the Apertura in Liga MX. The Mexican outfit have endured a mixed opening to the 2024 campaign, winning two of their first four league games, but they did claim their first Supercopa title in June after beating Tigres 2-1.
Here’s 90min’s guide to Chelsea’s upcoming friendly against Club America.
Chelsea vs Club America H2H record
Chelsea and Club America have never faced one another in a competitive fixture.
Current form (all competitions)
|
Chelsea |
Club America |
|---|---|
|
Chelsea 1-4 Celtic – 27/07/24 |
Juarez 1-2 Club America – 21/07/24 |
|
Chelsea 2-2 Wrexham – 25/07/24 |
Tigres 1-0 Club America – 18/07/24 |
|
Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth – 19/05/24 |
Club America 3-1 Queretaro – 13/07/24 |
|
Brighton 1-2 Chelsea – 15/05/24 |
San Luis 2-1 Club America – 07/07/24 |
|
Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea – 11/05/24 |
Club America 2-1 Tigres – 30/06/24 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
chelsea.com (subscription required) |
|
United States |
ESPN+, fuboTV, ESPN App, TUDN.com, TUDN App, ESPN Deportes, TUDN USA, chelsea.com |
|
Canada |
chelsea.com (subscription required) |
Chelsea have handed extended breaks to those who competed in the Euro 2024 final, so Maresca is still without Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella and Conor Gallagher – who may well be heading to Atletico Madrid.
Maresca has utilised Reece James in an inverted right-back role and the Englishman is set to assume that function again with Malo Gusto operating down the right touchline and Noni Madueke drifting infield.
Tosin Adarabioyo and Marc Guiu could both be included in the Italian’s starting XI with the pair of new arrivals offering glimmers during Chelsea’s opening two games of the tour.
Trevoh Chalobah and Romelu Lukaku are among the senior players that didn’t travel to the States.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Club America (3-4-2-1): Sanchez; Adarabioyo, Fofana, Colwill; Gusto, James, Lavia, Chilwell; Madueke, Sterling; Guiu.
The Mexican side will be without a few players due to injury.
Alex Zendejas and Kevin Alvarez are expected to return from their respective setbacks next month, while Jorge Mere is on the sidelines for the long haul after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. Diego Valdes could recover in time for this friendly.
Dutch winger Javairo Dilrosun is perhaps the most familiar name who’s likely to start for Club America in this one.
Club America predicted lineup vs Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Malagon; Espinoza Acosta, Araujo, Lichnovsky, Calderon; R. Sanchez, Dos Santos; Dilrosun, Fidalgo, E. Sanchez; Martin.
Chelsea’s tour has not exactly been successful up to this point and their defeat to Celtic would have undoubtedly raised a few concerns given the ease at which the Blues’ backline was breached by an inferior team.
Maresca’s side has shown some promise in possession and they were able to generate chances against Celtic, but structural improvements must be made to ensure they aren’t relentlessly torn apart on the counter. Club America, as they did in the Supercopa final, will be happy to contain and pounce.
There should be goals in Atlanta, with Chelsea needing to work hard to secure a positive result.