Thomas Tuchel has confirmed Chelsea’s plans for next week as they complete their preparations to face Everton in their Premier League opener.
Chelsea’s 2022 pre-season schedule has now concluded after they won their two matches against Udinese in Italy on Friday night and Saturday morning.
The first XI won 3-1, before the second claimed a 2-0 victory at the Dacia Arena in Udine.
Advert
It was a positive end to pre-season for the Blues following their difficult and demanding tour of the United States.
The season is just under a week away and despite Tuchel admitting his side are not ready yet, which he accepts and knows they don’t need to be yet, there is still work to be done on the Cobham training pitches next week.
The timeline of their scheduling for next week has now been revealed after the Chelsea head coach confirmed the plans for the squad in the build up to face Everton.
Upon their return to England, Tuchel has given the players two days off which should see them report back to Cobham, giving them Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to prepare for the league match before heading up to Merseyside.
On Friday night, Tuchel said: “We play another match here against Udinese, another team, to have minutes in our legs. Then it’s two days break.
“Then we prepare nothing else but Everton because they are right in front of the door and we need to improve, we are not ready yet.
"We don’t have to be ready yet, we have another week and then it’s the time to be on the best level and there’s still some way to go.
“It was a pretty long pre-season, tiring and exhausting to be in the US for so long and having another travel today in the circumstances.
“Not so easy, pretty demanding, always nice when the season arrives, you feel the tension and pressure which we all enjoy.
“We will have this next week.”
Who Tuchel selects to start on the opening day remains unclear, but the selections against Udinese could have given an indication of the eleven.
Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling and Mason could be given the nod, should they be fit, after starting and playing against Udinese on Friday.
Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho and N’Golo Kante all put in star performances against Udinese in the two games and will be hoping to get a starting role in Tuchel’s midfield.
Now the players have one week to convince and stake their claim. It’s down to them before it’s decision time for Tuchel.
Topics: Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel, Everton, Premier League, Football
Matthew Debono