Chelsea have been back in training for a number of weeks, albeit without the majority of the players who guided the club to the Champions League trophy earlier in the year.
A 6-1 victory over Peterborough United in a behind-closed-doors friendly was supposed to be followed by a match against Drogheda United in a similar setting.
However, a possible coronavirus case within the group led to the cancellation of that game at short notice, leaving the Blues to play another 90-minute between themselves.
With the potential of another hectic campaign ahead of them, Thomas Tuchel will not be too concerned that the players currently available to him have not been able to accumulate the game time that was initially expected.
Fixtures against Bournemouth, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as the European Super Cup tie with Villarreal, will provide Tuchel and his squad with plenty of opportunities to get up to speed ahead of their August 14 date with Crystal Palace.
The late arrival of Scott Parker as the club’s new boss has left Bournemouth restricted to just two pre-season games ahead of welcoming the Premier League giants.
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A 4-2 success against lower-level Spanish outfit Linense was followed by a 2-1 reverse versus La Liga side Granada, a respectable result given their shortened preparation
Nevertheless, Parker will not want to use that or a lack of signings as an excuse when his players go up against a team being tipped to challenge for the top-flight title.
While players will come and go over the coming weeks, Parker needs to see improvements from whoever takes to the pitch with the Championship opener against West Bromwich Albion scheduled for August 6.
