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Chelsea’s preseason schedule is beginning to take shape

By Gabe Henderson

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 29: Ben Chilwell of Chelsea battles for possession with Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on November 29, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matthew Childs - Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 29: Ben Chilwell of Chelsea battles for possession with Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on November 29, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matthew Childs - Pool/Getty Images) /
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The 2020 European Championships have dominated headlines as of late, especially when one considers the news surrounding the England National Team. Chelsea duo Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell have been in the news lately, as well. They’re now under quarantine for at least five more days following their contact with Billy Gilmour, who contracted COVID-19 over the weekend. Considering all of this, one would be forgiven for missing the Blues’ schedule release last week.

The Champions of Europe will kick off the 2021/22 campaign on August 14 at Stamford Bridge against Crystal Palace. The final of Euro 2020 kicks off a little over a month prior, so that leaves just a matter of weeks for Thomas Tuchel to rally his troops in preparation for the upcoming season. Therefore, it goes without saying the preseason will be a bit hectic. As the Premier League opening day draws closer, the Blues are already getting their preseason plans in place.

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The world is beginning to open back up following the strict restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The normal we have all dreamed of will hopefully soon become a reality. Fans will soon be shuffling into stadiums to cheer on their favorite sides, pre-match pints at the pub will become a guarantee on matchdays and football’s heart will begin beating again. The return to normalcy for fans also means a structural shift for footballers.

After Chelsea played just one official preseason friendly in preparation for the last campaign, the club has already doubled that for the coming months. The Blues have penciled in their first two preseason contests, both set for early August. These aren’t just any regular friendlies though, the west Londoners have partnered up with their local rivals for a wonderful cause. Chelsea will square off against both Tottenham and Arsenal as the capital’s three footballing giants play in a preseason series the first of its kind.

Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham agree to take place in The Mind Series this preseason.

They’re calling it The Mind Series and it’s a collection of contests played in London for charity. The first fixture sees Arsenal host Chelsea on August 1 (3 p.m. BST) before the Blues welcome Tottenham the following Wednesday (August 4, 7:45 p.m. BST). A North London Derby from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will close out the series on August 8 at 2 p.m.

25 percent of the proceeds from each of the three games will go to Mind, the UK’s leading charity for assisting with mental health. The money raised will help Mind meet rising demands for its services as the world comes out of a pandemic, which took a heavy toll on individuals near and far. The other 75 percent of the proceeds will be split amongst the three clubs based on revenue from their respective home match. The clubs will not hold onto the funds, but rather donate it to a charitable foundation of the club’s choosing that supports mental health around the globe.

Chelsea has led the charge in recent years in regards to how football clubs should help the community. Owner Roman Abramovich has focused the club’s efforts on combatting social issues such as racism, and more specifically, anti-Semitism. Further, the Blues earned plaudits for their efforts during the pandemic. Abramovich not only continued to pay the club’s employees throughout the entirety of the lockdowns, but he opened up the team’s hotel free to NHS workers. More recently, Stamford Bridge has been used as a local vaccination site as England begins to open up again. The Mind Series is not only another event the Blues are taking part in to make their fans proud off the pitch, it will also make a difference in the lives of those in need.

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It’s unknown at this moment whether or not The Mind Series represents the entirety of Chelsea’s preseason schedule. The seemingly annual closed-door contest against Reading could find itself on the schedule, that’s nothing more than a prediction though. If nothing else, clashes with Arsenal and Tottenham will make for a juicy preseason for a wonderful cause.

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