INDIANA GROANS

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WHILE Brendan Rodgers grinned, Enzo Maresca groaned in Indiana this morning.

The new Chelsea head coach had just witnessed his side being pummelled 4-1 by Celtic in the Notre Dame Stadium.

Man-of-the-moment Matt O’Riley nonchalantly rolled the ball wide of Robert Sanchez to get the green party started in the 18th minute.

Kyogo Furuhashi, who earlier been defied by a miraculous save from the Spanish keeper, knocked in the second shortly after the half-hour mark.

PILING ON THE MISERY…Luis Palma prepares to drill in Celtic’s third against Chelsea.

Late in the second-half Luis Palma and Mikey Johnston put the seal on a comprehensive performance from the champions against bewildered opponents whose only consolation was a penalty-kick from Christopher Nkunku in the fading moments.

Maresca, who quit Leicester City to replace the sacked Mauricio Pochettino in the summer, moaned: “Off the ball, we need to improve things.

“You can see sometimes we confuse when we need to play short and when we need to play a little bit longer, but that is part of the process.

“We maintained a high line, but when the ball is not under pressure, you need to drop.”

Maresca, speaking to Sky Sports, added: “We are still confusing some things on the ball and off the ball.

“It is normal in this moment when we are trying to do something new.”

THE FINAL AGONY…Mikey Johnston rolls No.4 behind the stranded Robert Sanchez.

Rodgers will lead is team into their opening Premiership encounter against Kilmarnock at Parkhead a week today as the Hoops begin their quest for a fourth successive title.

The new man at Stamford Bridge will be hoping his players aren’t so bewildered by the time Premier title kings Manchester City arrive for the Premier League kick-off on August 18.

Maresca also knows the price of failure in London. Previous gaffer Pochettino didn’t even last a year before he received his P45!

RAMPANT HOOPS TO THE FOUR

 

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