BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - Much has been made of the intense training regimen that Chelsea players go through. Midfielder Joe Cole said that's just part of the package when a player signs with Chelsea.
"With our team, every day is a chance to compete and a chance to show what you've got," Cole said. "The club is set up to make sure it has players who will compete. You can see that by watching our training."
Manager Jose Mourinho has put the club through its paces since its arrival in the USA last Wednesday, when they flew to southern California in advance of the MLS All-Star Game.
The Blues hope to gain added conditioning as they play in the heat on Saturday, preparing for their Premiership opener on Aug. 20 against Manchester City.
"You want guys to come through injury-free and get some minutes under their belt," Cole said. "We want to build on the fitness and get a feel for playing with each other again, as well as working in the new players. We'll get a feel for the kind of runs they like to make."
Chelsea's Frank Lampard agrees that conditioning work is a big issue for Chelsea on Saturday, besides trying to get a victory.
"We always want to win," Lampard said. "The main thing is fitness for each individual and as a team."
Rebounding: Shaun Wright-Phillips, Chelsea's fastest player, is anxious for a speedy comeback.
After the Blues bought his contract from Manchester City for $38.75 million amid great fanfare prior to last season, Wright-Phillips never really found his groove. But Mourinho has stuck by the 5-foot-5, 141-pound midfielder and expects owner Roman Abramovich's investment in Wright-Phillips to pay big dividends this season.
Wright-Phillips also has those big bounce-back expectations. His troubling season kept him from traveling with England for the recent World Cup.
"Obviously, I'm a bit down from missing the World Cup," Wright-Phillips said. "But once you have a setback, you reach deeper inside yourself. I believe in myself, which is the main thing.
"Not all things go the way people want. It's just down to the player and the person to change that around."
Wright-Phillips hopes to contribute to a third consecutive title in the English Premier League.
"It would mean a lot to Chelsea and the players," Wright-Phillips said. "It would show again how far the club has come in a short stretch of time."
Dynamic duo: Early training sessions in the USA have made Chelsea players and coaches even happier about the acquisitions of stars Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack.
"Having players like that just shows what we've got and what we can depend on," Wright-Phillips said.
Added Mourinho: "I'm impressed (with Shevchenko and Ballack). But I was impressed before."
Shevchenko has said his intentions are to make Chelsea the last team for which he'll play.
"I have only played for two teams and this will be my third," said Shevchenko. "I hope in my head this is where I end my career. I hope to be happy here and hopefully that will be the last one."
Staying put: At Friday's press conference, Wright-Phillips was hypothetically asked about whether he might ever consider playing in the MLS.
Wright-Phillips was explaining he had never even considered the possibility when Mourinho walked in.
"Hi, boss," Wright-Phillips said as laughter erupted.
"I don't know what he said, but he has to play tomorrow," Mourinho said.
Moving out: There have been two major transfers from the Chelsea squad since the opening of the international transfer window. Spanish fullback Asier del Horno agreed to a deal with Valencia on July 21 and Irish international winger Damien Duff moved to Newcastle United the next day.
"I don't think that changes things," said midfielder Geremi. "This is football and there's going to be movement. But the main thing is that we kept most of the squad together."
Robert Falkoff is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
