Inter test next for jet-setting Blue
Having gone to the other side of the world to beat Perth Glory 1-0 on Monday night, the Blues will zip across the Irish Sea to face Arsenal in Dublin next week.
It’s then a Community Shield encounter at Wembley against Manchester City, before a home match the following Wednesday against Lyon to complete their bizarre pre-season fixtures.
With so many holidaying World Cup stars unlikely to be ready for the opening Premier League encounter away to Huddersfield Town on August 12, it will be a case of Chelsea reserves for most of the upcoming games.
One man expected to make his Chelsea debut will be goalkeeper Rob Green.
The former England stopper, is 38, and put pen to paper on a one-year deal on Thursday morning.
He will battle it out with Willy Caballero for the support slot to Thibaut Courtois, should the Belgium return from his international exploits in Russia still a Chelsea player – Real Madrid are still keen to sign him.
There will be egg on the face of Chelsea’s hierarchy as the expected £50million deal to nab Aleksandr Golovin has fallen through.
The Russian is now set to sign for French side Monaco.
Thiago Alcantara, pictured, is now a target and the former Barcelona man, at Bayern Munich, could cost £45m.
Assistant head coach Gianfranco Zola has spoken more about his new job at SW6.
“Chelsea is certainly a much bigger club than it was when I was here,” said Zola,
“And I’m pleased about that because it means the whole place is improving. We’re here, myself and Maurizio, to help the club improve and keep growing.
“When I stopped playing I didn’t know whether I was good enough to do it [coach], and I didn’t know whether I wanted to do it, but then when I stayed a little bit out of it I realised how much I missed it and therefore went back into it.
“I realise it’s a big challenge for me. I feel this, I know this and I’m ready.
As I said when I came many years ago as a player, I don’t know what the outcome is going to be but I will have the same attitude, to work hard and do the best I can for the cause.”
Chelsea Women continue their pre-season work and have added a fifth newcomer to the squad – Finland’s Adelina Engman.
Emma Hayes, named on the shortlist for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach 2018 award, said: “Adelina will bring a tireless work-rate that will raise the bar in the squad.
She’s got the technical qualities to play in any of the midfield and forward positions.
Engman joined from Swedish club Kopparbergs/Goteborg.