Chelsea's players were afforded a couple of days off after being crowned world champions but the first-team squad returned to Cobham yesterday as preparations for Saturday's Premier League clash at Crystal Palace began.
Due to the January international break, the FA Cup and the Blues' involvement in the Club World Cup, it's been almost a month since Chelsea were in action in the English top flight.
Not that their position in the table has been impacted. Thomas Tuchel's side remain in third and hold a four-point advantage over Manchester United, who moved up to fourth with a 2-0 win over Brighton at Old Trafford last night.
The following weeks are going to be intense for the Blues, with the Champions League returning, the race to finish in the Premier League top four intensifying, and the small matter of the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool to come at the end of the month.
So there can be no let-up from Tuchel or his players, the majority of which are fit and ready to be called upon in the games ahead.
And here is what we spotted from the first training session undertaken by the Chelsea squad since being crowned champions of the world after their victory over Palmeiras in the Club World Cup final on Saturday.
Wish you were here?
That the Club World Cup was relocated to Abu Dhabi – it was originally set to be played in Japan – meant the Chelsea first-team squad were able to enjoy a week of warm-weather training.
With winter temperatures in the UAE in the mid-20s (Celsius), the Blues players soaked in the sun and escaped from the cold and grey British winter for a few days.
But on the squad's return to Cobham yesterday, reality would very much have set back in. The evening session was played under floodlights, in the driving rain and wind, and with the temperature only a few degrees above freezing.
Welcome home, lads.
Back to the grind
Chelsea's Club World Cup win ensured Cesar Azpilicueta made history: the Spaniard is the only Blues player to have claimed every major honour while at the club.
It's a feat the likes of Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba didn't achieve and firmly cemented Azpilicueta's status as one of the greatest players to have represented Chelsea.
Yet there was little time for the club captain to bask in that glory and along with the rest of the squad, Azpilicueta got back to work yesterday at Cobham.
There are big tests ahead for Chelsea; the Champions League Round of 16 first leg against Lille next Tuesday is followed by a Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
Standards need to be maintained. Azpilicueta will ensure that happens.
Welcome back, Ruben...
Prior to the January international break, Chelsea overcame Tottenham at Stamford Bridge but there was no Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the squad. The midfielder was also absent for the FA Cup tie against Plymouth and didn't travel with the first team to the Club World Cup.
The reason why wasn't disclosed but football.london understands Loftus-Cheek has been nursing an Achilles issue, but not with the one he ruptured in 2019.
Understandably, Chelsea and Loftus-Cheek decided not to take any risks and he has been undergoing treatment at Cobham over the previous three weeks.
Yet on the squad's return from Abu Dhabi, Loftus-Cheek was back involved with the group and will be hopeful of returning to the matchday squad against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Relaxed Romelu
Heading into the Club World Cup, Romelu Lukaku had not had the easiest five weeks at Chelsea. That was predominantly of his own doing, of course, with the Belgian striker's controversial interview with Sky Italia hurting his relationship with the club's supporters.
His form had also been lacklustre with only a goal against non-league Chesterfield in the FA Cup to show for seven starts for the Blues across three competitions.
Lukaku needed to deliver in Abu Dhabi, to step up and begin to heal the rift he caused. The 28-year-old did that with the winner in the semi-final against Al Hilal and the opener in the final against Palmeiras.
And on his return to Cobham – with the accolade of world champion now claimed – the Belgium international cut a relaxed figure as he trained yesterday evening.
King Kai
Kai Havertz has proved himself the man for the big occasion at Chelsea with goals in the Champions League final and the Club World Cup. Now the challenge for the German is to become the man for every occasion.
Havertz has netted only six Premier League goals since his move from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2020. For a forward of his talent, that is simply not enough.
The 22-year-old will hope to nail down a starting position in the weeks ahead – there were promising signs of a relationship building with Lukaku in Abu Dhabi – and establish himself as the reliable goalscorer the Blues have lacked for much of the past 18 months.
