This year Chelsea will enjoy two pre-season stops, first a tour to Asia in July and then they will compete in the Guinness International Champions Cup in America in August. The team that played a colossal 69 matches last season is preparing for another busy season, starting with a busy pre-season fixture list. Pre-season is an opportunity for new signings, Andre Schurrle and Marco Van Ginkel, to meet their new teammates and for all Blues, new and old, to try to impress manager Jose Mourinho and earn a coveted spot in the team for the 2013/2014 season. With a large squad, comprised of many young players, and with a few more signings expected in this summer transfer period, a few players can be expected to be loaned out next season to ensure they receive game time. Mourinho will be excited to see what talent awaits him as he once again takes the reigns at Chelsea. A few familiar faces remain ever present, but Mourinho will be excited to manage new, fresh talents such as Oscar, Mata and Hazard. With a manager that has made no secret of playing players that he feels are deserving and benching players he feels are slipping, like Casillas and Pepe at Real Madrid last season, no Chelsea player is guaranteed a spot in his team, everyone will have to earn it. Chelsea kick-off their pre-season in Bangkok against Singha All-Stars on the 17th of July, followed by a trip to Kuala Lumpur on the 21st where they face Malaysia XI, and Jakarta where they face BNI Indonesia All-Stars on the 25th. Next the Blues will jet off to America to compete for the Guinness International Champions Cup. Their first match will be in Indianapolis on the 1st of August against Inter Milan, followed by a trip to New York where they will face either AC Milan or Valencia on the 4th and potentially play the final in Miami on 6th or 7th of August.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Jul 2013 08:31:30 +0000
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