Chelsea’s preseason tour squad is officially 28 players strong, but forget the total number for a second. The real headline? Trevoh Chalobah, Axel Disasi, and Benoit Badiashile are not on the plane for the club’s massive Southeast Asia and Australia swing, and it tells you everything about their futures.
A Tour Across Continents and Some Big Absences
Manager Xabi Alonso’s crew is kicking off a seriously ambitious preseason, their first trip to Southeast Asia and Australia in over a decade. They’re hitting up Sydney, Hong Kong, Jakarta, and even Iskandar Puteri in Malaysia. But while the squad is a mix of veteran first-teamers and promising youth talents, the absence of Chalobah, Disasi, and Badiashile speaks volumes. These guys are out because of ‘possible transfers,’ and honestly, it feels like we already know how this story ends. Nicolas Jackson, on the other hand, is expected to join up, which is a key detail here.
We also have a couple of guys sidelined already: Geovany Quenda is battling fitness issues, and Emmanuel Emegha has a hamstring problem. Minor injuries, sure, but missing the start of this crucial tour? That’s never ideal, even if they’re expected to link up later.
The Gauntlet Ahead and Who’s Making the Trip
This tour isn’t just a vacation, either. Chelsea’s got a stacked schedule that starts against the Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday, July 28, at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Then it gets spicy: Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, August 1, also in Sydney. After that, they’re off to Hong Kong for a match against Juventus on Wednesday, August 5, at Kai Tak Stadium. Next up, it’s AC Milan in Jakarta on Saturday, August 8, at GBK Stadium, before wrapping up the main tour against JDT in Iskandar Puteri on Tuesday, August 11. What a gauntlet, right?
And don’t forget, once they’re back home, there’s still a sixth friendly against Real Sociedad at the Bridge on August 15. This is where those 28 players,from goalies like Filip Jörgensen and Robert Sánchez to defenders like Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana, midfielders like Roméo Lavia, and forwards like Cole Palmer and João Pedro,really need to gel. It’s their chance to show out.
So, what’s the big takeaway here? This preseason isn’t just about getting fit. It’s about shaping the entire roster for the new Premier League season. With three significant names not even making the initial cut, and a demanding schedule ahead, every minute on that field for the rest of the squad is a chance to prove they belong. Keep your eyes peeled for that first match against the Western Sydney Wanderers on July 28. It’s going to be telling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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