Chelsea summer signing reacts to Blues' poor start to pre-season
- Chelsea yet to impress in pre-season under Enzo Maresca
- Blues held to draw with Wrexham before humiliating Celtic defeat
- Renato Veiga determined to stay positive
By Tom Gott
Renato Veiga has urged Chelsea fans to remain calm despite the Blues' bitterly disappointing start to pre-season.
Enzo Maresca's first summer in charge began with a scrappy 2-2 draw with League One side Wrexham but descended into farce with a shocking 4-1 thumping at the hands of Celtic which has left supporters concerned for the future.
After the upcoming meeting with Club America, Chelsea have friendlies against Manchester City, Real Madrid and Inter to look forward to before facing Pep Guardiola's side in their opening Premier League fixture later in August - an imposing run for a team low on confidence.
Nevertheless, summer signing Veiga believes there is no cause for concern at this early stage in Maresca's tenure.
"Of course it's about results and in every football game you want to win," Veiga explained. "Chelsea especially has to win every game. But we are in pre-season. The most important thing is the process, the connection between each other.
"When the time comes on August 18 [against City], that is when it counts and when we have to win for sure.
"[Maresca] is a very direct manager, very direct in what he wants. You just have to enjoy and learn the maximum that you can in every training session, to give everything you can in every session - that is very important for him as well and after you can replicate it on the pitch."
Veiga, a natural midfielder who is comfortable both at centre-back and at left-back, went on to confess he does not yet know whether he will be kept around Maresca's squad or loaned out next season.
"We will see at the end of pre-season or after the market closes," Veiga continued. "I feel the trust from the manager and my colleagues. I just want to do my best and we will see of course.
"How can you say no to Chelsea? For me they are the biggest club in England. They have a very ambitious project, not only for the present but the future as well. Right now the most important thing is the present and I am very happy to be here.
"I am a very versatile player. I just can’t wait to get more opportunities to play for this club. I was watching them at home [as a child], buzzing about Didier Drogba's goals and N’Golo Kante's tackles. I just want to be able to live those moments as well."
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