Chelsea FC first day back at training pics and review

Hey!

Here are pictures and a review of Chelsea FC’s first day back at training this season. complete with Daniel Sturridge and Ross Turnbull:

It seems like only yesterday we were lifting the FA Cup, but the players returned for pre-season today, meeting Carlo Ancelotti for the first time.

 

There was a ‘first day back at school’ feel at Cobham this afternoon as the squad and staff caught up on what each other had been up to while away, as well as a first meeting with the new man in charge for most of the players.

 

There was a sizeable turnout, with appearances from new boys Daniel Sturridge and Ross Turnbull, as well as a Chelsea return from Claudio Pizarro who spent last season on loan at Werder Bremen.

 

Not everybody was there though, with a number of players due to report later after extended international duty. That number includes John Terry and Frank Lampard, back on Thursday as well as each of our African internationals who return next week.

 

Today was more about bringing the squad together with the coaching staff and new manager than it was hard work, though there was still enough for the players to do to know pre-season was well underway.

 

After a very light jog early this afternoon, there was a second session later on that demanded a little more from those present.

 

A simple warm-up was followed by a string of exercises designed to get the players moving, at varying speeds and distances, working with a ball to disguise the amount of work being done.

 

Joe Cole, training with freedom after rehabilitating his cruciate ligament injury, looked as pleased as anyone to have a ball at his feet again.

 

In his training kit for the first time, Ancelotti initially stepped back to assess what was going on around him, but quickly got involved and directed the players, watching closely as they played some small-sided games.

 

Also involved were some of the club’s younger talents, those such as Sam Hutchinson, Gael Kakuta, Patrick van Aanholt, Jeffrey Bruma, Ryan Bertrand and Jack Cork, eager to demonstrate what they could do alongside more established names like Michael Ballack, Petr Cech, Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda.

 

There will be plenty more to come as the lads settle down to work over the rest of the week, but for now they all seem happy to be back.

Cya

Jack