Generally, the first preseason match sees the entire squad used. Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea neglected six players who are heading for exits or demotions.
Preseason matches are about experimentation. The unlimited number of substitutes (generally) and the low risk of losing a match allows managers to experiment with players and tactics they would normally avoid.
That is why it is noteworthy when, in the first preseason match, a player is not played. It is not unusual to see 22 players feature in a single preseason match. It is unusual to see only 19, especially given how far Chelsea traveled to play a single game.
This was the best chance for many players to prove themselves. New manager, World Cup year, little barrier to entry. But six players, for whatever reason, failed to impress Maurizio Sarri. Some will return to their youth teams, others will head out on loan, and others will see their Chelsea career end. But for all of them, it means they are nowhere close to breaking through. That might prompt pushes for more permanent moves.
Jared Thompson will return to the academy. Chelsea were short on keepers with Thibaut Courtois and Willy Caballero still gone, so he was called into the squad. A loan could be in his near future.
Bradley Collins, Fikayo Tomori and perhaps Kasey Palmer will go back out on loan. Collins did well in League Two last season and could be heading up. Tomori has bounced around a few Championship teams now and is likely to return to one. Palmer has more question marks given his injury history. He will likely go to the Championship on loan, but a permanent move would surprise few.
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Michael Hector and Danny Drinkwater will be sold. Both are too old for any loans and if they could not make the field over Tomas Kalas (who is sure to be loaned or sold) or Mario Pasalic (who is most likely going to be loaned soon), then they have no Chelsea future.
Drinkwater’s exclusion was the most shocking of the six given how hard Chelsea went after him last season. But Antonio Conte never saw enough from him when fit and it appears Sarri is seeing the same. He can likely contribute to a Premier League team still, but it will not be Chelsea. Finding a buyer willing to pay anything close to what Chelsea paid will be difficult.
The returning World Cup players will push these six out of the 25 over time. Willy Caballero will push one of Collins or Thompson out. Tomori and Hector will make way for Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger. Vi ctor Moses and Azpilicueta will return as well to further tighten the 25 before the Inter Milan match.
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Nearly everyone that came on or started for Chelsea in Perth had a fantastic match. To not be part of that at all as Cesc Fabregas and David Luiz played a full 90 is incredibly telling. Sarri is already trimming the fat from the squad by excluding it. More changes will be on their way as the World Cup players return.