Chelsea announce pre-season fixture against Serie A side following tour of America
Chelsea fly out to America this weekend for their pre-season tour, with Thomas Tuchel ready to assess his players ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
Chelsea have announced a new pre-season fixture against Serie A side Udinese as Thomas Tuchel’s side prepare to fly out to the USA.
The Blues are set to face Club America, Charlotte FC and Premier League rivals Arsenal during their tour of the US. Tuchel’s side will travel from the west over to the east during their tour, starting in Las Vegas and ending in Orlando, Florida.
Chelsea will fly out on Saturday, July 9 with their first fixture scheduled for Sunday, July 17 against Mexican outfit Club America. The club have confirmed that just six days after their game against Arsenal, the Blues will play Udinese in Italy.
Chelsea will play the Serie A side on Friday, July 29, with the game set to kick-off at 20:00 PM BST in one of the most modern and environmentally friendly stadiums in Italy, the Dacia Arena, formerly known as Stadio Friuli.
The Blues played Udinese in a pre-season friendly 21 years ago with the game ending 1-1 after Dutch striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored before being sent off later in the match. Hasselbaink has recently spoken on Raheem Sterling’s imminent move to Stamford Bridge after the England international agreed personal terms with the west London club.
Speaking to SkySports, Hasselbaink said: “They need a goalscorer. Sterling’s a great player, a very good player but he’s not an out and out No. 9.
“So I think if you’re gonna get Sterling you still need a goalscorer with him. We all know about Sterling and what he can do, how good he is, how quick he is and how determined he is, so great signing. But I still think they need a 20+ goalscorer in their squad.”
It’s understood that Sterling is the Blues top transfer target this summer as Todd Boehly eyes his first signing as the club’s owner. Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt as the club look to strengthen their defensive options ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
