Chelsea have arrived and already had their first training session at a midseason camp in United Arab Emirates. The Blues are currently working without a host of first team stars as the World Cup knockout stages start in Qatar, with several players already on the plane home.
Graham Potter will be focused on the 25-man squad that is currently available to him, though, with 11 players in the group yet to make their debuts. Chelsea face Aston Villa in a friendly on December 11, and the next match is expected to be the domestic return against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on December 17.
With the World Cup causing a host of unknowns to be factored in by sides this winter - including fatigue, injury and varying player emotions - Potter has nearly two weeks of training with his squad in the bank since the break started. These players may well be key to the foundation for post-World Cup matches.
