The Enzo Maresca Chelsea regime is now fully up and running in the capital. Monday marked the return of the Chelsea team to the club’s Cobham base for the first day of pre-season training ahead of the new campaign.
The Blues may still be missing a handful of players due to their involvement at either Euro 2024 or the Copa America this summer but the vast majority of the squad were present to begin their summer work. The first day of training also meant that summer additions Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Omari Kellyman could met their new teammates for the first time.
As is always the case on the first day of pre-season training, the players underwent medical and physical tests following their summer break. The first day of pre-season training wasn’t just about testing, however, as Maresca and his players were then straight down to business with the ball on the training pitch.
Following the return to training for Chelsea’s players, football.london runs you through five things we spotted from the video footage and photos released by the club.
Following his appointment as Chelsea head coach at the beginning of June, Maresca had the opportunity to work with his Chelsea squad for the very first time on Monday. Not only a chance to meet the players at his disposal heading into the 2023/24 campaign, the Italian also had the opportunity to immediately make his mark and outline his vision to the team as they aim to challenge towards the top of the Premier League once again.
The video footage published by the club highlights that Maresca is very hands-on when it comes to work on the training pitch as he could be seen directing his players and implementing his style of play. That was noticed by a number of Chelsea fans on social media and they duly praised the new boss for his work with the players.
Maresca quite clearly had plenty to say to his squad on day one of pre-season and one of his messages that was clear for all to hear in the footage outlined the importance of their work in training. He said: “Now is the moment we need to work…everyday, everyday, everyday….”.
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It looks set to be another active summer in the transfer market for Chelsea. The club have already added to their squad ahead of the new term and a few more signings will be expected to follow in the weeks ahead.
Adarabioyo, who has made the short move from Fulham to Chelsea, was training alongside his new teammates for the first time, with Dewsbury-Hall and Kellyman also involved in the session at Cobham. While Maresca certainly knows all about Dewsbury-Hall following their year together at Leicester, the other two summer additions will be doing all they can to catch the Italian’s eye as they bid to become key players in his system.
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Mauricio Pochettino had to do without a number of Chelsea players last season with injury hitting the team hard. First-team regulars such as Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and Reece James all faced long spells out of action, with new additions Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku just not able to make an immediate mark for the football club due to injury.
Had they managed to steer clear of injury during the 2023/24 term, Chelsea may well have finished a lot higher in the Premier League table. Maresca will have his fingers crossed that all five remain fully-fit over the course of the new season and that they all go on to play huge roles in Chelsea’s campaign.
All five players were involved on the first day of pre-season training and hopefully that is a sign to come over the course of 2024/25.
Mykhailo Mudryk may well have surprised quite a few connected with Chelsea following his involvement on day one of the club’s pre-season training. The winger has been representing Ukraine at Euro 2024 in Germany, with his last game for his country coming 12 days before the Blues reported back to their Cobham base.
At a time when the vast majority of players who have since exited the Euros are now enjoying a well-earned summer break, Mudryk was back on the training pitch putting in the hard yards ahead of the new season. His desire to return to Chelsea training should be commended and all fans will be hoping that his sacrifice pays off.
Both Maresca and Mudryk did share a moment together following the end of training, with the duo spotted deep in conversation when others were heading back inside. After his struggles over the past two campaigns in a Chelsea shirt, hopefully this is the season where everything finally clicks for the 23-year-old.
A number of Chelsea youngsters will be hoping to seize their chance in pre-season as they bid to become key players under Maresca in the years ahead. As ever, there could be opportunities for academy players on the club’s pre-season tour and potentially pitch time, too.
Tyrique George is one player who has made a really big impression in the club’s academy and Chelsea fans are desperate to see him get his chance in the first time in the not too distant future. The left-winger, who starred for the Under-18s last term, was named in the Chelsea squad for three Premier League games towards the end of last season but he unfortunately wasn’t introduced by Pochettino.
George was involved in pre-season training under Maresca on Monday, with fellow youngsters Josh Acheampong, Bashir Humphreys and Kiano Dyer also taking part in the session.
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