Chelsea have now flown out to the United States to begin their three stop preseason tour. While a very strong team was named to the traveling squad, two prominent names were omitted: N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The former PFA Player of the Year and the key backup midfielder had to stay back to due to their covid-19 vaccination status.
Current rules for entering the United States stipulate that only those with an exception or American citizens can enter the country if unvaccinated. Otherwise you have to be both vaccinated and boosted. At this time, it is unclear whether the duo have only received one dose of the the vaccine, or if they’re completely unvaccinated.
Both midfielders missed matches last season after having tested positive for the virus. Loftus-Cheek returned a positive COVID-19 test last August while Kante tested positive ahead of a Champions League group stage match against Juventus in September.
Here’s the traveling squad and the preseason tour listed out below:
We’re on our way to Los Angeles! ??
Here’s our travelling squad for the trip! #BluesInTheUSA pic.twitter.com/hRD4Ubv1YT
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 9, 2022
16 July v Club America (Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas)
20 July v Charlotte FC (Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte)
23 July v Arsenal (Camping World Stadium, Orlando)
The Blues will spend a week training camp in LA before their first match, in Vegas. It’s too bad they have to go to such a dull, blah dreadful place like Charlotte, basically just New South Indianapolis. It’s like the same city at Indy but warmer and in a forest.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Bank (TheSportsBank.Net) and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune, and he co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast, part of Edge of the Crowd Network. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.