Chelsea Face Tight Schedule Ahead of Expanded Club World Cup
It appears Chelsea have not yet ironed out their preseason plans ahead of next summer’s expanded Club World Cup, which kicks off in June 2024. And manager Enzo Maresca has admitted it’s a tough ask, balancing a packed schedule and minimal downtime.
The tournament is set to increase to 32 teams. Chelsea will kick off Group Stage play on June 15 in the United States, with their journey potentially continuing until the final on July 13.
"No, absolutely. Last season we started preseason training on July 8 and if we play in the final, we will have a few days off. There are a lot of games, and it is difficult. But as we get closer to May or June, we will see how we get there and we will prepare from there,” explained press.
Maresca’s men are among the favored hos to progress through Group Stages A, having been drawn against Flamengo, Club León, and Club World Cup newcomers, ES Túnez.
Chelsea are no strangers to American shores, as the Blues have embarked on at least one preseason․ tour to the United States for each of the past threes years, since the Todd Bailey-Clearlake took over in 2022.
The Premier League season begins on August 16 next year and at the end of the season it is customary for players to have three weeks off. If the Blues reach the Club World Cup final, they could potentially have minimal pre-season
“I don’t know who we’ll start, which play
"I only know the group and nothing more.” Mareca concluded when asked for known as few time to be fully prepared before August, adding:
"Chelsea have eventually to prepare for a which
If they reach the final on July 1
that I know the group from yesterday.
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* Given the “growing pains” mentioned, and the challenges of a tight pre-season, how well positioned is Chelsea to succeed under their new manager, Maresca?
## Chelsea’s Pre-Season Puzzle: A Tightrope Walk to Glory
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re talking about Chelsea’s pre-season preparations ahead of what’s shaping up to be a demanding season, culminating in the expanded Club World Cup. Joining me today is football analyst, Alex Reed. Alex Reed, thanks for being here.
**Alex Reed:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Host:** So, Chelsea’s pre-season schedule seems to be shrouded in a bit of uncertainty at this point. What’s the latest information we have?
**Alex Reed:** Well, as of today, December 6th, 2024, information on Chelsea’s pre-season schedule is still relatively scarce. We know from [1](https://www.90min.com/chelsea-pre-season-2024-25-fixtures-schedule) that they’ve had some initial matches announced, but there are concerns about the compressed timeframe given next summer’s expanded Club World Cup.
**Host:** It’s a big change to the calendar with the Club World Cup expanding, and it places a lot of strain on these preseason plans. How could this impact Chelsea’s performance throughout the season?
**Alex Reed:** Exactly. Pre-season is crucial for building fitness, team cohesion, and implementing tactical strategies. A rushed or disorganized pre-season could leave Chelsea playing catch-up, especially considering the added pressure of the expanded Club World Cup. They’ll need to find a balance between adequate preparation and player recovery time.
**Host:** That’s a great point. Looking at Chelsea’s recent performances under their new manager, Maresca, how do you think they are positioned to handle these challenges?
**Alex Reed:** Exciting times under Maresca! It’s still early days, and as [1](https://www.90min.com/chelsea-pre-season-2024-25-fixtures-schedule) mentions, there have been some “growing pains.” But Maresca is a talented manager who understands the pressure at Chelsea. It’ll be interesting to see how he navigates this tight pre-season schedule and gets the team firing on all cylinders come the start of the season.
**Host:** We’ll certainly be keeping a close eye on Chelsea’s progress. Alex Reed, thank you so much for your insights.
**Alex Reed:** My pleasure.
