Chelsea's first group of stars are back in training and being put through their paces before the first team squad heads of to Los Angeles for their pre-season tour. After undergoing some work in the gym and training pitches over the weekend, Thomas Tuchel was present on Monday morning to lead a session.
The first group involved were made up of 14 players that included Ben Chilwell and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who had already put in some work at Cobham throughout the summer. They were joined by likes of Hakim Ziyech and players that had been out on loan last season, such as Levi Colwill, Ian Maatsen and Dujon Sterling.
Monday saw Harvey Vale, fresh from England under-19 success, Mason Burstow, Charlie Webster and Lewis Hall join the group, with the development stars bulking the numbers available.
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The remainder of the Blues' squad are set to join up in time for Chelsea's trip to the United States, with some potentially even meeting the squad in California. That gives the smaller group just a bit more time to impress Tuchel, as Trevoh Chalobah did last summer.
There have certainly been some impressive moments already, though maybe not quite the sort that land you a spot in the starting XI on the starting day. Ziyech showed his prowess in a crossbar challenge over the weekend but on Monday was left in a spin by Chilwell.
As the Blues participated in the usual rondo, Ziyech and Hudson-Odoi were pressing hard in the centre attempting to win the ball. When Chilwell received it, he was the epitome of composure, passing it to Chalobah before the 23-year-old immediately returned it to him.
The former Leicester star took a touch and feinted his next pass with little flicks of his foot before audaciously turning in a circle to keep the pressing duo guessing. A little chip to Malang Sarr followed, leaving the Chelsea wingers struggling before Chilwell and Chalobah once again found the ball and began gently alternating, putting their foot on top of the ball with Hudson-Odoi languishing on the floor.
Chilwell's spin was reminiscent of Conor Gallagher's celebration for Crystal Palace when he scored against Wolves. On that occasion the midfielder was paying tribute to his brother Jake, who went viral over the summer for his unchallenged 360 spin in a Dorking Wanderers match.
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