How do they do it? They cover every blade of grass for 90 minutes, yes 90 minutes (that’s 5400 seconds)! How do they do it? They of course, being the squad of players that make up Chelsea Football Club. How can anybody possibly be that fit?
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Being a teacher of children with special needs I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to play football with some of my pupils every lunch time. I thought I could handle it. I’m 31, I stopped smoking over two years ago, a bit of a kick about with some of the pupils should not be a problem. Only at times like these can you possibly begin to imagine the levels of fitness our players can aspire to.
I felt sooooooo sick! Not only do I come in from the field a rather strange shade of green, grasping life with every breath I could possibly muster but one of my pupils decides it would be a great idea to hold a football tournament on the last day of term. Of course this pupil is an Arsenal fan who reminds me of the events of May the 4th once every 2 or 3 minutes. So I say…..(through clenched fists and an oxygen mask clamped to my face), "GAME ON".
Anyway, enough of that here are a few snippets for you…….
Pre-Season:
Pre-season has finally started for all but seven of the first team squad and now, (at last), we can begin to look forward to the coming season. According to the official Chelsea web-site the players reported back for regular pre-season tests, with the real hard work starting the following day. It is understood that the squad will fly off to Italy next week, attending the same training camp as last year.
However, Chelsea’s five World Cup participants will get an extra two weeks off – therefore missing the Italian trip- these include Gronkjaer, Desailly, Petit, Stanic and Babayaro. Hasselbaink and Forssell are also set to miss out due to their rehabilitation due to their recent surgery. Let’s hope the both of them make a speedy recovery!!
Pre- Season Tour:
Chelsea have now confirmed that the squad will now definitely be travelling to the Far East later this month to play three friendly games as part of the pre-season preparations.
The tour will start in Kuala Lumpur on July 24th where we will face a Malaysian League select side before moving on to China where games against two local sides will be held. These will be in Chongqing on July 28th and Suzhou on July 30th. Apparently ChelseaTV will be featuring all of the games so best you subscribe now!
Mendietta (Continued):
It seems that continued restructuring of the squad at Barcelona is continuing to push Mendietta in the general direction of Stamford Bridge. With Mendieta's supposed move from Lazio to Barcelona running
into contractual difficulties, rumour has it that the Italians had offered the lively and changeable midfielder to Chelsea. It also seems that with the arrival of Riquelme at Barca, this places some doubts as to the space in the current squad for Gaizka Mendieta. Is his proprosed move to Barcelona finally over?As Chelsea-Mad had only recently reported, Mendieta is considered one of the world's finest midfielders. However, he is apparently considered surplus to requirements at Lazio who are eager to offload the unsettled Spaniard. Lazio however, have found themselves restricted by a clause set in the contract between themselves and Valencia (Mendieta's previous club).
The contract stated that in the event Lazio sold Mendieta to another club within the Spanish Primera Liga, Valencia would then be entitled to £7.8 million compensation. Therefore in term of economics, it makes sense to offload Mendieta to a club outside Spain and Chelsea supposedly, are considered the logical destination.
This seems to be confirmed with recent reports suggesting that Mendieta is close to sealing a deal with Chelsea and Claudio Ranieri, a coach Mendieta knows well. Indeed, 'Marca' says that Ranieri wants Mendieta at all costs, and even that Mendieta himself has already said that he would like to play, next season, at Stamford Bridge.
We will have to wait and see…..?
Any comments, gripes, hopes, laughs, stories etc please email me @
stevefurlong@chelsea-mad.co.uk