Forget that it might be a preseason game in which Chelsea FC may not be as sharp as they will be when they attempt to win a third straight English Premier League title.
Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad believes the Blues will be a formidable test for the Major League Soccer All-Stars on Aug. 5 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.
Conrad, selected to be in the First XI for the game, was the second highest vote-getter for the squad. The All-Stars were chosen by a combination of voting from fans, the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers.
Most of Conrad's support came from players, coaches and general managers.
"It's exciting playing an opponent as highly touted as Chelsea," Conrad said. "Obviously, they have a roster of 25 world-class players. So I don't think it matters who they put out there. I look forward to game and I look forward to the challenge."
The MLS All-Star First XI is a pretty accurate list of the players in the league who are in form.
"We have a solid 11 guys and I'm sure (Coach) Peter (Nowak, coach of the All-Stars) will pick good guys that are deserving to be on the team," Conrad said. "I expect us to have a solid 18 against Chelsea."
When Conrad takes the field for the All-Star Game, he could be asked to help stop world-class attacking players such as Andriy Shevchenko, Didier Drogba, Arjen Robben and Joe Cole. The Chelsea squad boasts 16 players who were on World Cup rosters last month. Shevchenko was recently signed from AC Milan, and Michael Ballack has joined the club from Bayern Munich.
Chelsea have more players who currently play for countries that did not qualify for the World Cup.
"They have a mystique about them now," Conrad said. "They have won the Premiership two years in a row and they have national team players at every position."
The team is lead by manager Jose Mourinho, an star in his own right.
"He seems to have a lot of charisma and the confidence he puts into his team shows on the field, Conrad said. "Chelsea is one of those teams that is definitely an extension of their manager."
So what would be a good showing for the All-Stars? A victory, for starters, Conrad said.
"I think more importantly it's a matter of showing the fans who come to the game and fans who watch (on television) that we can compete with the best teams in the world," Conrad said. "I think we are closing that gap in terms of international soccer. Now it's just a matter of having this platform to show it at the club level."
On an August day in Chicago, the weather is likely to be warm, perhaps warmer than the west London squad is used to. Conrad said the whole 18-man squad could be called on to give quality minutes.
"I expect them to split their squad, probably 11 guys go 45 (minutes) and another 11 go 45. I'm sure the heat won't be helping them out either," Conrad said. "The disadvantage for us is that we don't play with each other a lot. We will probably have one or two practices prior to that game to jell and figure out what we are going to do."
Then the test comes on game day.
"They can do everything so you just have to go out there and do your best," Conrad said. "Make them make decisions and do not make it a nice, easy day."
Robert Whitman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
