Glen Johnson believes Chelsea’s younger squad can emulate his Premier League win with the Blues subsequent season – however the former England defender is aware of their Membership World Cup marketing campaign may take its toll on Enzo Maresca’s gamers.
The six-time champions haven’t mounted a reputable title bid since their final triumph in 2016/17, with Maresca additionally going through the problem of getting little greater than a month between the top of the competitors within the US and the go to of Crystal Palace to kick off their top-flight schedule.
“It’s a superb idea, from a followers’ perspective, once you’ve received the most effective groups on the earth taking part in one another and also you don’t usually get to see that,” Johnson says of Fifa’s expanded Club World Cup.
“As a participant, you stay up for the summer time since you want a relaxation to have the ability to address the demanding season coming, so to then go and have nonetheless many different aggressive video games when you could possibly be having a relaxation doesn’t sit nicely.
“The video games are so demanding and so they play so many video games of soccer now already. That with a significant event arising or one thing – when do the boys get to relaxation?”
Chelsea can problem for Premier League – Johnson
Chelsea completed fourth in Maresca’s first season in cost, with a run of two wins in 10 league matches between December and February turning their robust begin right into a battle to qualify for the Champions League regardless of heavy funding.
“The most important factor that permit them down final 12 months was consistency,” says Johnson, talking through 888Sport.
“They put in some performances the place you thought ‘bloody hell – they’re going to be robust to beat’, however then they’d go and lose a foolish recreation, which you simply can’t do in the event you’re going for the title.
“There have been video games I watched on the Bridge the place I believed they had been the most effective I’d seen in years, however then they’d go off the fuel for the subsequent recreation.”
John Terry: Chelsea legend ‘took strain off’
Maresca has once more had a busy summer time off the pitch, together with the signings of ahead Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion for £60 million and winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund for as much as £52m.
Striker Liam Delap arrived from Ipswich City for £30m, whereas winger Estevao is about to finish a £52m transfer from Palmeiras and midfielder Dario Essugo price £18.5m from Sporting, amongst a set of signings with a noticeable age profile.
“I like the truth that they’re completely happy to spend cash on the youth, for the longer term,” says Johnson, who signed as an 18-year-old in 2003 and gained the 2004/05 Premier League and EFL Cup throughout 4 years as a part of a squad that includes the likes of legendary captain John Terry.
“On the similar time, it’s essential have a stability with present gamers who could make you compete nearly right away. We had a hell of much more established gamers – a lot of the lads had been already internationals.
“We had been extra skewed to big-name gamers, the place you recognize what you’re getting. You’d have me being 18 and the others being round 25.
“You’re not so scared to make a mistake since you’ve received Marcel Desailly subsequent to you or JT [Terry] or somebody like that.
Comfortable birthday, JT! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/5AlRubByyK
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 7, 2018
“It’s not that you just’re making game-changing errors, nevertheless it simply takes some strain off you a bit.
“They believed in you as a result of they knew what you could possibly do from coaching collectively. You wouldn’t be taking part in in the event that they didn’t need or want you there.
“They had been simply in a position to maintain you calm and cease you from getting too carried away. They’d cease you from getting excited and changing into too concerned in assaults once we had been profitable 1-0 or issues like that, simply studying the sport as you’re taking part in.”
Reece James: Accidents ‘soul-destroying’
One in every of Johnson’s successors at right-back for membership and nation, Reece James, is a participant at excessive danger from the calls for of the schedule following a string of accidents which have restricted the 25-year-old’s availability.
“He usually performs a couple of video games after which his physique lets him down,” observes Johnson, who understands James’ predicament. “He simply must attempt to handle his physique and get a little bit of luck.
“Once you’re popping out of the therapy room, firstly it’s arduous to get match health. Then there’s constructing momentum. All of us hate being within the therapy room, so that you’re buzzing once you get out of it.
“To be again in there two or three video games later is simply soul-destroying. I did it many instances – each time they stated to me ‘that is going to be eight weeks’, I’d be making an attempt to show it into 4 or 5, since you don’t wish to be in there.
“You’re feeling good, however once you’re doing the rehab you don’t push your self as a lot as you do on a matchday – you are able to do it with the handbrake on, so to talk, and take your time.
“However then you definately’ve received to do what you’ve received to do, and that’s when you can begin getting recurring accidents. It’s as a result of the lads wish to be again taking part in.”
Membership World Cup: Chelsea vs Fluminense
Chelsea face Brazilian facet Fluminense in New Jersey within the Membership World Cup semi-finals on Tuesday (20:00 BST), when a win would ship them to a closing on the similar setting towards Paris Saint-Germain or Actual Madrid on Sunday (20:00).
Whereas the finals are massively profitable for the membership, there was loads of debate round whether or not gamers are absolutely motivated to danger accidents on the finish of a nine-month season in what has typically been searing warmth.
“You don’t wish to [get injured] and be out for 10 weeks,” factors out Johnson, whose achivements throughout his distinctive 16-year senior profession included an FA Cup win with Portsmouth in 2008, lifting the EFL Cup with Liverpool in 2012 and going to 2 editions of the World Cup and Euro 2012 on the way in which to profitable 54 caps.
“They’re not going to wish pre-season as a result of they gained’t have lengthy sufficient to get match. It’s the identical with friendlies – you don’t go 100% since you’re having them for a cause.
“To get match, you push your self on the proper instances. However on the similar time, you’re pondering ‘this isn’t as essential as the primary recreation of the Premier League season’, and it’s essential be match sufficient for that.”
Chelsea on the Membership World Cup: Stay stream, TV channel in UK
Stay protection of Chelsea’s semi-final is on DAZN, with their potential closing on the platform and Channel 5.
DAZN Subscribers or Freemium member can tune in as a part of their current membership, whereas non-subscribers can register for a free account to begin watching.
Followers can watch on the go through the DAZN and Channel 5 apps on sensible TVs, telephones, tablets, video games consoles and streaming gadgets.
Chelsea Membership World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Filip Jorgensen, Mike Penders, Robert Sanchez, Gaga Slonina
Defenders: Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Aaron Anselmino, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Mamadou Sarr
Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor, Dario Essugo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos
Forwards: Liam Delap, Tyrique George, Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer
When does Chelsea’s 2025/26 Premier League season begin and finish?
Having certified for the Champions League on the final day in 2024/25, Chelsea tackle FA Cup winners Palace on the opening matchweek of the 2025/26 season.
The sport at Stamford Bridge is at 14:00 on Sunday, August 17 and is reside on Sky Sports activities Most important Occasion, Premier League and Extremely within the UK.
The final spherical of matches will all begin on the similar time on Might 24 2026. No rounds will happen inside 60 hours of one another and there shall be no fixture on December 24.
