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Ballack joins the Chelsea crew (cut)

Monday, Jul 31, 2006

The numbers have increased again, the pitches are getting larger.

An in-flux of World Cup players boosted training on Monday as Chelsea

said hello to a close-cropped Michael Ballack.



The José Mourinho haircut is catching on. Germany’s international captain

joined his new team-mates with a new look. If it was in anticipation of the

sweltering heat of a few days earlier he had been caught out. For morning

training it was mild and overcast.



Another new face was Mikel John Obi (the version of the young Nigerian’s

name by which he wishes to be known). His visa procedure had been completed,

allowing him to fly out on Sunday to begin work.



The returning players were initially worked as a separate group by fitness

coach Rui Faria but were soon integrated with the main party. After seven

training sessions the programme has moved on to what José Mourinho calls

stage two, with more work on team shape and tactics.



When the morning session got down to two teams, two goals and regular

football, the half-sized pitch that had been used up to now was increased

to three-quarters to accommodate the larger-sided teams. Space was still tight. Razor-sharp ball control remained essential to survive.



With the final score a draw, a crossbar challenge was employed to decide the

winning team. Always a highlight with the players, just one managed to strike

the target from a range of some 50 yards. He was the freshly-returned Paulo

Ferreira. When the opposing side’s big hope, Gérémi, missed narrowly there

were mass celebrations, greeted by a few flying footballs from the defeated side.



UCLA continues to provide a very American back drop to Chelsea’s

preparations. This time the adjacent stadium to the fenced-off football

area was hosting a large group undergoing noisy cheerleader coaching. And if

anyone remains in any doubt that the game is healthy at grassroots level

on this continent, the many organised games on nearby pitches between

children barely knee-high to Petr Cech may have convinced them otherwise.



For the new players like Ballack there is tough work ahead before the first

game against the MLS All-Stars on August 5th. It is a game that can be seen

live on Chelsea TV.



Chelsea TV will have EXCLUSIVE LIVE coverage in the UK and Ireland of

the all three games in Chelsea’s pre-season - the MLS All Stars,

Feyenoord and Celtic.



For information on how to subscribe to Chelsea TV, click here



Chelsea fans based in the rest of the world can watch the games against Feyenoord and Celtic on Chelsea TV Online. For more information on how to sign up, click here