Chelsea have organised a warm-weather training camp in Abu Dhabi.
The Chelsea squad not involved in the World Cup will fly out to the Middle East with Graham Potter next month. They are set to organise at least one friendly which will be a low-key game but the emphasis will be on training and work with the new boss as Potter looks to implement his ideas on the squad.
Blues boss Potter believes the break will come at a good time with Chelsea now four games without a win in the Premier League which has seen them sink to seventh in the table.
Potter said: “I think that’s going to help us. We’ll have two or three key players back and a couple of the ones on the way closer to being back that’s just how its been.
“We’ve had a bit of a perfect storm in terms of lots of games and injuries along the way but we have to deal with that and focus on how we can improve the team and as you can see from the team there is a bit of work to do.”
Chelsea are holding it in Abu Dhabi so that international players can join up and make the short trip across from Qatar when their respective teams are knocked out of the World Cup.
Other Premier League teams are doing similar as Mirror Sport revealed last month that Arsenal and Liverpool are playing AC Milan in Dubai with another fixture against Lyon now added to the Gunners’ schedule.
But it could be particularly important for Chelsea as Potter looks to turn around the club’s fortunes and results which saw them slump to defeat against Arsenal on Sunday. Potter has pleaded for time and patience from the Chelsea fans and pointed to other managers - such as Mikel Arteta - needing time to get things right.
The Chelsea hierarchy have already made it clear that reaching top four will not be make-or-break for Potter but the Blue boss has not shied away from the pressure and expectation levels since taking charge in September.
