EskWeston 696 Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 As the Chelsea players and coaching staff prepare to return for pre-season training on Monday, we switch our focus to the club's first pre-season friendly - against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical on July 23. It will be the first opportunity for fans to see the team led by Luiz Felipe Scolari, with new signings Deco and José Bosingwa likely to be involved, as well as Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic, who signed in January. Ivanovic has not yet appeared for the first team having signed from Lokomotiv Mosco during what was the Russian close season. He then suffered a couple of niggling injuries preventing him from reaching peak fitness before the 2007/8 entered its critical period. The game against Guangzhou will take place at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium, pictured, which has a capacity of just over 80,000 and will be the venue of the 2010 Asian Games. Most Chelsea fans will probably be unfamiliar with our first ever Chinese opponents, who were promoted into their country's Super League in 2007. The league currently has 16 sides, and also includes Chengdu Blades, who we will meet later in the tour. Formed as Guangzhou FC in 1954, their current title is their seventh, taken on in 2006 after investment by South China's largest medical company. Like us, Guanghzou play predominantly in blue kit, though white shorts are sometimes worn. Last summer, they hosted Manchester United, losing 3-0 in the Olympic Stadium after goals from Wayne Rooney, Nani and Lee Martin. Managed by Shen Xiangfu, the squad consists mainly of Chinese players, but like the new Chelsea, there is a distinct South American theme with two Brazilians and an Argentine in the ranks. You will be able to watch the game in full on Chelsea TV, which is also first with all the news from Stamford Bridge. Be sure to log back on to Chelseafc.com soon as we continue the countdown to pre-season action. Source: Chelsea FC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidEU 2,023 Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Really starting to get excited about this. Under 3 weeks to go now until the first game. Looking forward to seeing Deco and Bosingwa, and obviously Scolari. I hope that the majority of the squad is done and dusted by then, but I doubt it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EskWeston 696 Posted July 3, 2008 Author Share Posted July 3, 2008 Really starting to get excited about this. Under 3 weeks to go now until the first game. Looking forward to seeing Deco and Bosingwa, and obviously Scolari. I hope that the majority of the squad is done and dusted by then, but I doubt it. I am sure they will try, otherwise any negotiations become very difficult, with the team away for at least 2 weeks. Yup, i love the pre season games. Especially with a new man in charge, a chance to see new players in action and to see how we are going to try and set up for the comming season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kez 2,727 Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Cant wait to see the blues back and with new faces too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aesthetic Relic 301 Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 I take it the games will be on around the early hours of the morning, like last seasons games in America? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EskWeston 696 Posted July 4, 2008 Author Share Posted July 4, 2008 I take it the games will be on around the early hours of the morning, like last seasons games in America? I think they are in the afternoon rather than the early hours of the morning this time..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milan 17,964 Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 vs. Guangzhou - 13:00 vs. Chengdu - 13:00 vs. Malaysian Select XI - 13:45 chelseafc.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aesthetic Relic 301 Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 I ended up watching last seasons games on a mates webcam ...4am eyes tripping me I dont think they were available on sopcast, etc.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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