Key Takeaways from Chelsea's US Pre-Season Tour.

Chelsea wrapped up their U.S. pre-season tour with a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, shifting the focus to their pressing defensive concerns. 

Despite promising moments on the pitch, the tour's finale underscored the team's vulnerability at the back, sparking urgent discussions on how to tighten their defense before the competitive season begins.

The Blues embarked on a whirlwind tour across the U.S., playing five matches in five states over 18 days. They managed one win, one draw, and three losses, conceding a total of 12 goals. Despite the mixed results, the tour provided plenty of insights and key moments.

Here are seven talking points from Chelsea's journey from Santa Clara to Charlotte.

1) Consistent Transfer Strategy: Unchanged or Unyielding?

Despite two challenging years under Todd Boehly-Clearlake ownership, Chelsea remains committed to their youth-first strategy. They've missed European competition in their first season and only secured a spot in the UEFA Conference League in their second.

The Blues have invested around £115m in eight young players, all under 21, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Tosin Adarabioyo, Estevao Willian, Marc Guiu, Filip Jorgensen, Renato Veiga, Omari Kellyman, and Caleb Wiley. 

This average age might drop further with potential signings like 18-year-old goalkeeper Mike Penders from Gento and 20-year-old striker Samu Omorodion from Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea is also eyeing high-profile targets like Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, possibly involving Romelu Lukaku in a swap deal. 
Meanwhile, their 45-man senior squad, which features seven registered goalkeepers, has been a hot topic on social media.

Despite the criticism surrounding Chelsea's transfer activity, there is a strong belief within the club that this youth-focused strategy will eventually pay off. This approach is expected to benefit Chelsea, BlueCo, and RC Strasbourg, all part of the multi-club group.

2) Chelsea's Shift in Strategy.

Chelsea is set to adopt a new, slower, and possession-based style of football under Enzo Maresca. This approach, which has been evident during their U.S. pre-season tour, requires players to adjust to Maresca's methods rather than him adapting to them.

Teams like Manchester City and Celtic have exploited this shift, causing mistakes as players adapt to risky plays from the back. Half of the 12 goals conceded in pre-season came from these errors, including three out of four against City.

The team is also struggling with a high defensive line and a lack of pressing intensity, a habit Maresca attributes to last season’s style. His tactics include underlapping full-backs, man-to-man marking, and using two high-numbered midfielders in a five-man attack.

These high-risk, high-reward principles are similar to those used by Maresca’s title-winning Leicester team last season and are intended to be applied across Chelsea and BlueCo, including RC Strasbourg. 

This tactical identity was a factor in Mauricio Pochettino's departure, as there were disagreements over the club’s long-term strategy.