Chelsea had a brutal Premier League campaign last season, man. Like, a dismal 10th-place finish, which is just not gonna cut it for a club with their ambitions. They even fired Enzo Maresca in January, then gave Liam Rosenior the boot right before the season wrapped up. Now they’ve brought in Xabi Alonso to try and turn things around, but seriously, this preseason schedule looks like pure chaos.
New Coach, Same Wild Roster Roulette?
It’s like an annual tradition at Chelsea, right? Constant roster turnover, BlueCo just wheeling and dealing like crazy every summer. You’ve got players filtering back into the squad from the World Cup, mixing with all the new faces, and it feels like they’re just throwing pieces at the wall to see what sticks. Alonso’s got his work cut out for him, stepping into a situation that’s been in turmoil since last season’s 10th-place finish. He’s gotta get this team locked in, and fast, before their first competitive match on August 23.
A Brutal Preseason Gauntlet
This isn’t your grandma’s leisurely warm-up tour. Chelsea is seriously cramming six games into two weeks, tearing across Australia and Asia! They kick things off against Western Sydney Wanderers on July 28, then face fellow Premier League side Tottenham, both in Sydney. After that, it’s a mad dash to Hong Kong for Juventus on August 5. Three days later, it’s AC Milan in Jakarta, Indonesia. And get this: a separate squad is playing Johor Darul Ta’zim in Malaysia just one day later on August 9! It’s an absolute whirlwind, five of those games in Australia or eastern Asia. They finally get a six-day breather back home before wrapping up the preseason against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on August 15. That kind of travel and pace? Oof.
World Cup Return: A Staggered Start
Adding another layer of complexity, Chelsea had a whopping 11 players at the World Cup, and not all of them are back yet. Remember, they get 21 days of rest after their tournament ends. Moises Caicdeo and Kendrys Paez from Ecuador, along with Netherlands international Jorrel Hato, Nicolas Jackson, and Mamadou Sarr, they’re already back in the mix. But third-string Belgium goalkeeper Mike Penders is still out enjoying his full break. And England internationals Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah? They’re gonna need until around August to link up with the squad. Alonso is going to be mixing and matching lineups like crazy as these guys trickle in.
So, what’s the deal for the Blues? They finish up their preseason grind against Real Sociedad on August 15, then it’s go time with their first competitive match on August 23. You gotta wonder how Xabi Alonso is going to gel this squad with all the constant player movement and a ridiculously intense travel schedule. Can he turn that chaos into cohesion? We’ll find out soon enough.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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