By Dorcas Francis Koji
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has attributed Manchester City’s disappointing Community Shield defeat to Arsenal to their limited pre-season preparation, insisting the difference in match fitness was evident during the encounter.
City started the match with four players who had not featured in any of the club’s pre-season fixtures, while Arsenal’s entire starting XI had already gained valuable minutes before the competitive clash.
Speaking to Sky Sports Premier League on Thursday, Maresca said City’s lack of preparation affected their ability to establish rhythm and compete effectively against an Arsenal side that appeared sharper from the outset.
Arsenal made a stunning start, taking the lead just 24 seconds into the game and immediately putting City under pressure.
The Gunners continued to control significant portions of the contest before completing a commanding 3-0 victory.
Maresca believes City’s decision to introduce several players without pre-season game time into such an intense fixture ultimately affected their cohesion and physical performance.
“We started with four players in the starting XI who did not play one minute in pre-season, while at Arsenal, all 11 players had played minutes before the game,” Maresca said.
“The physical condition was completely different between us and them.”
The defeat served as an early warning about the importance of adequate preparation ahead of a demanding season, with Maresca stressing that match fitness, competitive minutes and team familiarity can be crucial in high-intensity fixtures.
For City, the Community Shield setback provides an opportunity to address those issues as they prepare for the challenges of the new campaign.
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