Chelsea are off to America for the next two and a half weeks, for a series of five friendlies, some hot-weather training, and a lot of marketing. We're taking 28 players, including four goalkeepers, with "several" players set to join later as well (presumably including Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez).
Would Conor Gallagher be included among them? Perhaps not, if our treatment of Trevoh Chalobah is any indication: the Chelsea Academy defender has been unceremoniously told to stay home. Guess the message is clear.
Others to miss out on the tour include Alfie Gilchrist (working on a loan) and Dorde Petrovic, who may or may not be injured (but is probably being shopped around as well, as per recent reporting). Summer signing Omari Kellyman is still recovering from an injury as well.
Youngsters Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong are expected to be in Chelsea's travelling squad.
Trevoh Chalobah and Alfie Gilchrist to be left behind. There is a loan group at Cobham led by Carlo Cudicini and Ed Brand.
Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic is carrying a minor injury.
- Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) July 22, 2024 Some of these choices are the expected and necessary side-effect of having such a massively bloated squad, but the Chalobah decision is especially leaving a bad taste in mouths. There are ways to go about such things, and this isn't it.
In better news, youngster Josh Acheampong is traveling, and so is Tyrique George.
The traveling squad, in full, is as follows:
GOALKEEPERS: Robert Sanchez, Marcus Bettinelli, Eddie Beach, Lucas Bergstrom
DEFENDERS: Reece James, Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga
MIDFIELDERS: Carney Chukwuemeka, Romeo Lavia, Lesley Ughochukwu, Andrey Santos
FORWARDS: Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Armando Broja, Tyrique George, Marc Guiu, Angelo Gabriel
The extremely busy and travel-intensive schedule for the Tour is as follows:
Wednesday, July 24: vs. Wrexham in San Francisco Santa Clara, CASaturday, July 27: vs. Celtic in South Bend, IN (at Notre Dame)Wednesday, July 31: vs. Club America in Atlanta, GASaturday, Aug 3: vs. Manchester City in Columbus, OH (at Ohio State)Tuesday, Aug 6: vs. Real Madrid in Charlotte, NC
More on Trevoh Chalobah's omission from Chelsea's tour of America.
Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi and Tosin Adarabioyo all going in his position. And #CFC have chosen to take a close look at Josh Acheampong.
Difficult decision to leave Chalobah out, and not one taken lightly. Won't... pic.twitter.com/MotBqpZxfo
- Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 22, 2024