There are now just nine days until Chelsea kick off their 2022/23 Premier League campaign against Everton and Thomas Tuchel will be working his squad hard on the training pitch in preparation for the Goodison Park trip. The Blues were somewhat off the pace in defeat to Arsenal at the end of their US tour and Tuchel was not certain that his side would be ready for August 6.
He said: "I can not guarantee. I saw today a team in Arsenal who are mentally committed to an idea of playing, a level of exhaustion, a level of physical commitment that we could not match.
"Also, a level of mental commitment that we lacked because we have a lot of players who are thinking about leaving and looking at their options. We have players that have left and I think at the moment that's obvious."
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There is plenty for Chelsea to resolve ahead of the new term and the end of the transfer window. The futures of the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Armando Broja and others need to be decided, while it's clear Tuchel would like more incoming players in the coming weeks.
Others will be trying to push their case in front of the German coach. Without new additions, youngsters like Ethan Ampadu and Levi Colwill can only grow in confidence of their place in the first team squad.
Chelsea have just one remaining friendly against Udinese in Italy on Friday, and are also set to play behind closed doors at Cobham against newly-promoted National League side Dorking Wanderers the following day. After that, Everton-specific preparations will await.
Edouard Mendy will undoubtedly play in goal for Chelsea on the opening day but who starts in front of him may be uncertain. football.london understands that the club are set to contact Wesley's Fofana's entourage this week over a move. He is one of a number drawing interest from the Blues but even if a transfer is completed, the player is unlikely to be prepared and embedded in Chelsea's system in time for Goodison Park.
Fortunately, the Blues still have some strong options remaining and Thiago Silva's vast experience in the heart of defence remains a stellar prospect. He should be flanked by Trevoh Chalobah and Kalidou Koulibaly, who should be ready for his Premier League debut, having made a short cameo against the Gunners in Florida.
Few would trade Chelsea's wing-back options for any others in the world and Reece James and Ben Chilwell will be in the XI providing they are fit. Tuchel may still require depth to spare James some minutes but do have Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri to call upon for Chilwell. Whether both remain at the club in August remains to be seen.
Ahead of them there is a great deal of competition. Jorginho and Conor Gallagher have had among Chelsea's better pre-season campaigns so far, with Mateo Kovacic's own run interrupted by injury, while N'Golo Kante was unable to travel on the US tour due to his vaccination status. On an ideal day, the latter two may be Tuchel's favoured options, and in truth sparing Kante of the US schedule may prove beneficial given his injury record last season. Jorginho and Kovacic may be the most well-versed opening pair to face Everton, however.
Following the departure of Romelu Lukaku, Kai Havertz remains the standout candidate to lead the forward line. The German international went goalless across Chelsea's friendlies so far, but has the experience to knit the side's lines together. Michy Batshuayi is still around the first team at the moment, while Broja returned to first team training on Tuesday after returning to Cobham due to injury.
Mason Mount was Chelsea's player of the season for the second time last term and has proved an impactful and versatile option. The 23-year-old will be one of the Blues' first names on the team sheet despite a lengthy list of competition. Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi are among the contenders but new arrival Raheem Sterling will be difficult to oust.
The former Manchester City star was Tuchel's priority signing this summer and Sterling is hopeful of reaching an even higher level during his time at Stamford Bridge. After a number of weeks in the Chelsea camp, he should be primed for the off.
Possible Chelsea XI vs Everton: Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Koulibaly; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Chilwell; Mount, Havertz, Sterling.
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