Enzo Maresca highlighted Chelsea's defensive strength ahead of their crucial Group D encounter with Flamengo at Lincoln Financial Field stadium in Philadelphia. The match, scheduled for Friday at 11:00 PM (Astana time), pits the two group favorites against each other after both secured 2-0 victories in their opening fixtures.
"Our defensive performance has been particularly strong this season, both in the Conference League and Premier League," Maresca noted after "Chelsea's" win against Los Angeles FC. "We've become the third-best defense in England."
The Italian tactician seems to favor a balanced attacking approach rather than relying on a single goal-scoring threat. He specifically praised Nicolas Jackson and substitute Liam Dilep for their contributions.
"I prefer having multiple forwards who can score 10 goals each and deliver important victories, rather than one striker scoring 40 times," Maresca explained.
Interestingly, despite this forward-focused talk, it was right-winger Pedro Neto and attacking midfielder Enzo Fernandez who found the net in Chelsea's opener.
Meanwhile, Filipe Luis' "Flamengo" side cruised past Esperance Tunis in their first match. Uruguayan Gerhian De Arashaeta opened the scoring early, setting a comfortable pace for the Brazilian club. Luiz Araujo, who added the second goal, was named their standout performer.
Bookmakers heavily favor the London side with odds of 1.75 for a Chelsea victory compared to 4.60 for Flamengo and 4.05 for a draw. Both teams have shown impressive form recently, each losing just one match in their last ten outings across all competitions.
Curiously, despite Maresca's confidence in his defensive unit, Los Angeles FC did create several dangerous chances in their match, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez making crucial saves. Will Flamengo's attack prove more clinical than their American counterparts?
This will be the first-ever meeting between these two clubs, adding extra intrigue to what promises to be a fascinating encounter between the champions of South America and one of Europe's powerhouses.
