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The Chelsea players have arrived in Japan and have taken part in their first training session today as they prepare for the World Club Cup this week, and I am wondering how you, the Chelsea fan reading this, feels about the competition?
As far as the manager and the players are concerned, this is a competition we have never played in before, and one we want to win.
Petr Cech spoke of the competition and said:
“How many times in your life do you have the possibility to be a world club champion? I’ve had to wait eight years for the opportunity to play in this tournament and the club has never had the chance to play in it before. If you win a major trophy like that before Christmas then it gives a lot of joy for everyone, for the supporters and for the club and it’s a boost of confidence as well. It can be a great lift. It’s something that when you go through a period when it’s not happening in the league that it can help.”
Oscar also spoke of the competition and is keen for Chelsea to progress to the final to hopefully face Corinthians of his native Brazil.
“I do hope that Chelsea are able to make it to the final and are able to face Corinthians. We have to be aware because Corinthians are going to take a huge group of supporters to Japan, even though it is so far away. We are representing Europe and we are going there with a determination to do it well. Nowadays the European clubs have all started to take the competition more seriously and they’ve been winning rather than the South Americans.
Cech has a point about it being called World Club Champions in addition to being the current Champions of Europe. If we do win the competition, that would be fantastic. If for some reason we do not win it, then would you see this as a waste of time and ground lost on our rivals in the Premier League?
For Rafa Benitez, the trip to Japan is a win, win situation. He hasn’t had proper time to work with the players to get his ideas across because we have had a game every two or three days. Out in Japan, everyone is together and it’s a time for him to work more closely with the players and this can only be good for him.
The idea of the competition is a good one but in my view should be contested during a break for international friendlies or at the end of the season. For Chelsea to travel to Japan straight from one game, to play two games out there in the space of five days, travel back and then face Leeds away in the League Cup, could have a negative effect on the players as they adjust to time zones.
I am interested to hear your views on this. Is the World Club Cup a good idea? Do you agree with the time the competition goes ahead or agree with me that it should be contested at a different time?
What do you think?
Carefree & KTBFFH!
