Lesley Ugochukwu shares what Enzo Maresca told him at half-time of Chelsea’s pre-season friendly

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Chelsea midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu saved his side from a humiliating defeat against League One outfit Wrexham.

Chelsea kicked off their pre-season tour of the United States with a 2-2 draw with Wrexham and initially took the lead in the game through Christopher Nkunku.

However, the Frenchman’s goal was cancelled out by Luke Bolton before Jack Marriott put Phil Parkinson’s side in front for the first time.

Enzo Maresca was close to losing his first game in charge, but Ugochukwu stepped up, calmly slotting the ball into Wrexham’s net just after the 80th minute.

Chelsea want to loan out Ugochukwu, so Maresca may not be able to call upon the 20-year-old in the new season.

Lesley Ugochukwu reveals Enzo Maresca’s instructions to him

Ugochukwu was introduced at half-time, and the Frenchman has shared the guidance Maresca gave him.

“To be calm with the ball, try to go forward and trust the process,” he was quoted as saying by Chelsea’s official website after the game when discussing the instructions that Maresca had given him. “Not rush it and I try to do what I was asked to do at half-time, and I did my best.”

Ugochukwu will now be hoping that he can stay fit after missing a large chunk of the previous season because of injury.

Again, though, the France U21 international may have to play his football elsewhere in the new campaign. Everton are one club keen on Ugochukwu‘s signature.

Christopher Nkunku and Lesley Ugochukwu Chelsea’s goalscorers

Nkunku and Ugochukwu were the ones to grab Chelsea their goals against Wrexham, but the latter still probably needs to go out on loan this summer.

There is a lot of competition in midfield, with Maresca having the likes of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and new signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all available to him.

Dewsbury-Hall was absent for the Wrexham game, but his injury is only thought to be minor, so he should be back soon.

His arrival from Leicester City earlier this month added more competition in the middle of the park, not helping Ugochukwu’s cause.

Nkunku will not be going anywhere this summer, with the 26-year-old potentially being a No.9 option for Chelsea in the upcoming campaign, but Ugochukwu looks set for a loan move, which would be good for his development.