The summer before the new season is not only important for its crucial transfer window, but also for its even more important training time and pre-season, when the teams are focusing to regain their needed fitness for the upcoming campaign.
In Chelsea’s case, fitness isn’t the only thing the team has to focus now, as the newly joined Antonio Conte is likely to pursuit a whole bunch of new tactics and systems.
Chelsea will begin their pre-season under Conte tomorrow, when the team heads to Austria, where they will play two of their domestic teams before flying to the United States to face bigger clubs like Real Madrid and AC Milan.
For Chelsea’s final friendly before the season kicks off against West Ham in early August, The Blues are likely to play CSKA Moscow in Russia.
Here is the full list of Chelsea’s friendlies this summer:
Rapid Vienna (AUS) v CHELSEA – Saturday 16th July – Allianz Stadion – 1800 CET
RZ Pellets (AUS) v CHELSEA – Wednesday 20th July – Worthersee Stadion – 2000 CET
CHELSEA v Liverpool – Wednesday 27th July – Rose Bowl – 20:35 PDT
CHELSEA v Real Madrid (ESP) – Saturday 30th July – Michigan Stadium – 15:05 EDT
CHELSEA v AC Milan (ITA) – Wednesday 3rd August – U.S. Bank Stadium – 20:30 CDT
CSKA Moscow (RUS) v CHELSEA – Sunday 7th August – Moscow Stadium – Time TBC (Unconfirmed)
Star players like Diego Costa, John Terry and Willian have been included in the pre-season from day one, but players who played for their national sides in further stages of Euro 2016 and Copa America, will join the rest of the squad next week.
