Change of plans! Chelsea arrange behind-closed-doors friendly against Brentford at their Cobham training ground next week with the Blues crafting themselves one final chance to prepare for the return of the Premier League
Chelsea have arranged a last-minute behind-closed-doors friendly with west-London rivals Brentford in what will be a final test before the Premier League returns after Christmas.
The fixture will take place at the Chelsea training ground in Cobham on Tuesday, December 20, the Evening Standard reports.
It will then give Graham Potter’s men seven days to recover before they resume action in the league against Bournemouth.
Chelsea have lined up a last-minute behind-closed-doors friendly at their training ground in Cobham against Brentford
Graham Potter’s side went into the World Cup break on the back of a poor run of form
The Blues have been training in Abu Dhabi but while they were there, Potter’s men suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa.
The game was also marred by a serious knee injury to striker Armando Broja – which will do Potter no favours as he deals with returning World Cup stars who need a rest.
England’s Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Conor Gallagher are expected to re-join the Chelsea squad later this week.
However, Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech will not return this week as a result of Croatia and Morocco advancing to the semi-finals.
Croatia take on Argentina later today while Ziyech’s Morocco face world champions France tomorrow.
Thomas Frank’s Brentford squad will hope to give Chelsea one last test before the season restarts
Either way, the Chelsea duo will be involved in the third-place play-off or the final at this weekend.
Fellow Chelsea stars Kai Havertz, Cesar Azpilicueta, Christian Pulisic, Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly had already been knocked out of the tournament.
Chelsea will be desperately seeking a win against Bournemouth as Potter’s side go into the game having not won a Premier League game in five attempts.
They suffered defeats to Newcastle, Arsenal, and Brighton and drew with Manchester United and Brentford.
It was an abysmal run that left the Blues sitting in eighth place – and eight points off Spurs who are fourth.
Potter will be hoping Chelsea can get back to winning ways, first in a friendly against Brentford before the real test begins.
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