After a much-needed day off following their pre-season tour of the USA, Chelsea's first-team squad will regroup today at Cobham to continue their preparations for the 2022/23 campaign. And there is much work to be done to ensure the Blues are ready for their Premier League opener against Everton.
The two-week trip Stateside didn't quite go as hoped – as explained in greater detail here – and Thomas Tuchel cut a frustrated figure on Saturday night after the Blues were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by London rivals Arsenal at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Chelsea's other pre-season games while in the U.S were against Club America and Charlotte FC. The former ended in a 2-1 victory for the Blues thanks to goals from Timo Werner and Mason Mount. The latter finished off 1-1 after 90 minutes and was settled via penalties, which Charlotte won 5-3.
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Given the heavy defeat to Arsenal and Tuchel's downbeat post-match press conference in which he could not guarantee Chelsea would be ready for the clash against Everton at Goodison Park, there is a sense of trepidation about what the next two weeks will bring.
Yet the tour wasn't a complete bust and there were those who came away with their reputations enhanced – or at least their place in the squad for the 2022/23 campaign assured. Here are the winners and losers from the visit to the USA.
Winners
Conor Gallagher
After a strong loan at Crystal Palace last term, Gallagher was expected to be incorporated into the first-team set-up at Chelsea by Tuchel. And that is what has played out as the England international confirmed earlier this week he will be staying at Stamford Bridge.
"I feel like I'm ready to make the step up for Chelsea this season," he said. "The boss here has said he wants me around and he thinks I'm good enough. Hopefully, I can play a big part this season for Chelsea."
Gallagher featured in all three of Chelsea's pre-season games – his best display was against Club America – and will be pushing to play regularly in order to secure his place in the England squad ahead of the winter World Cup in Qatar.
Jorginho
During the final weeks of the 2021/22 season, the Italian midfielder was visibly jaded. Fortunately, Jorginho was able to enjoy almost a month off during the summer and he told football.london in Los Angeles that it had done him the world of good.
"It was the time I needed," the 30-year-old said. "I went to Brazil and around Europe again. I was staying with my family and friends that was needed and I really enjoyed it. I am feeling fresh. I had a good summer and break. Now we start again."
It was clear against Club America that Jorginho had benefitted from time away. He looked more nimble, mobile and sharper across the pitch. That was also the case against Charlotte. He didn't perform quite as impressively against Arsenal, but then very few did in blue.
Ethan Ampadu
Back involved in the first-team squad following a loan at Serie A side Venezia, Ampadu produced a strong display against Club America in the heart of the Chelsea back three. He followed that up with a solid showing against Charlotte but only played the latter stages against Arsenal.
With Chelsea yet to add another centre-back to their ranks after bringing in Koulibaly, Ampadu has more time to impress Tuchel and his coaching staff. Yet with Wales heading to the World Cup for the first time in 64 years, the 21-year-old will want regular game time in order to secure his spot in the squad.
"The World Cup adds something else but even If there wasn’t the World Cup, as a professional footballer you want to play. I enjoy playing and I want to be playing week in, week out. But the World Cup is definitely something you want to be going feeling fit and fresh."
Losers
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
It was confirmed on the day Chelsea flew out to the U.S that N'Golo Kante and Loftus-Cheek would not be travelling with the squad due to their Covid vaccination status. The duo would instead undertake their pre-season work with the club's Development Squad and later the Under-19s.
"We cannot force (them)," Tuchel said. "It is at the moment, a very normal decision to get vaccinated. Both players took the decision not to. We need to follow the rules. They cannot join us. They know about the consequences. We don’t like it, of course not. We would love to have them here and it’s not an ideal solution. Far from ideal."
Given Kante's standing at Chelsea – Tuchel called him the club's Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in May – his position is not under threat. But Loftus-Cheek was the club's fourth-choice midfielder last term and faces a battle just to keep that spot now that Gallagher has returned
Billy Gilmour
After a disappointing loan at Norwich City last season, Gilmour will have wanted to lay down a marker in pre-season on his return to Chelsea. Unfortunately, he didn't get that opportunity as after a week's training in Los Angeles, the Scotland international was sent to the Development Squad, which had flown out to Salt Lake City.
The decision to send away Gilmour surprised several members of the first-team group, football.london understands. And given fellow midfielder Ross Barkley missed the two subsequent friendlies against Charlotte FC and Arsenal due to injury, it was a choice that backfired.
Gilmour and his representatives are likely to seek out talks with Tuchel over his future in the coming days. Another loan could be in the pipeline – and with two years left on his Chelsea contract, the next step is going to be an important one for the academy graduate.
Timo Werner
With Romelu Lukaku shipped off to Inter Milan on loan – and unlikely to come back to Stamford Bridge in truth – this summer offered Chelsea's attacking players with an opportunity to re-establish themselves in Tuchel's starting XI.
Since arriving from RB Leipzig two years ago, Werner has struggled for form and has scored just ten Premier League goals. It's not enough for a player that cost £45.9million and he perhaps didn't help himself while out in the U.S by stating he "could be happy anywhere" when asked about his future.
That drew a rather curt response from Tuchel, who told reporters: "I'm surprised, I would be very happy as a young guy having a contract at Chelsea Football Club. I would be one of the happiest people on the planet. [How he earns his place is to] show quality, take your place and defend your place. I would be one of the happiest people on the planet having a contract with Chelsea. If he said this, I do not understand."
Werner did find the net during Chelsea's pre-season tour, he scored the opener against Club America, but he didn't make an impact against Charlotte and produced an abject 45-minute display against Arsenal. His future at Stamford Bridge remains uncertain.
Kai Havertz
The departure of Lukaku left the No.9 spot at Chelsea very much open for Havertz. The German finished the 2021/22 campaign as Chelsea's first-choice striker and there remains hope that he can blossom into a reliable goalscoring presence under Tuchel.
However, he didn't impress in pre-season and finished without a goal in the three matches Chelsea played. Yes, a plethora of chances were not created but the German did miss a glorious chance to find the net in the narrow victory over Club America, in which Werner and Mason Mount struck.
And rather pointedly, Tuchel stated after the defeat to Arsenal that Chelsea's goalscoring issues weren't necessarily going to solve themselves given the personnel remains the same, barring the addition of Raheem Sterling from Premier League rivals Manchester City.
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