Chelsea FC is ready to start its new preseason campaign on U.S. soil this Wednesday night at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Blues will face newly promoted League One team Wrexham, one of the world’s oldest football clubs and co-owned by celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. This match marks Chelsea’s first appearance in over two months, and fans are eagerly anticipating seeing them in action again.
New Management and Team Changes
Chelsea’s preseason kickoff comes amid significant changes. Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff have departed, replaced by Enzo Maresca, who previously led Leicester City to the Championship title and promotion to the Premier League. Maresca’s arrival marks a new era for the Blues, bringing fresh strategies and tactics.
Player Transfers and Squad Updates
The player roster has seen notable changes as well. Iconic Brazilian center-back Thiago Silva has joined his childhood team, Fluminense, in Brazil. Several loan players, including Ian Maatsen and Hakim Ziyech, have been sold. New arrivals include Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who followed Maresca from Leicester City, Tosin Adarabioyo, signed from Fulham, Marc Guiu from Barcelona, and Renato Veiga from FC Basel. These new additions are expected to make a significant impact during the preseason.
Injuries and Absences
Two new signings, Omari Kellyman from Aston Villa and Caleb Wiley from Atlanta United, are not participating in the U.S. tour. Kellyman is undergoing rehabilitation for a minor injury at Cobham, while Wiley is representing the U.S. team at the Paris Olympics. Notably absent from the squad are Cobham graduate Trevoh Chalobah and Serbian Đorđe Petrović, who is recovering from an injury.
Returning Players and Academy Prospects
Fans will be excited to see key players returning from injuries, such as club captain Reece James, Christopher Nkunku, and Romeo Lavia. Wesley Fofana, who missed the entire previous season, and Levi Colwill, who faced injury issues, are also back. Lesley Ugochukwu will join the squad later due to his Olympic commitments with France.
From the academy, Eddie Beach and Lucas Bergstrom are in the goalkeeping group, while Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George are promising young talents to watch. Brazilian youngster Andrey Santos will also be part of the squad but will join Strasbourg upon returning from the U.S. tour.
Upcoming Changes and Transfer News
Chelsea is looking to offload a few players soon. Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is training alone in London, contemplating his future. Malang Sarr is close to a move to RC Lens, and Romelu Lukaku is reportedly heading to Napoli under former manager Antonio Conte.
Fans are eager to see how Chelsea will perform under new management. With a clear plan and strategy, there is hope that the Blues can navigate this tour successfully and avoid injuries that have marred past U.S. tours.
Source: Theprideoflondon
