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According to the Evening Standard, Ben Chilwell was one of the best performers in the Gacon test that manager Mauricio Pochettino held at Chelsea as part of their pre-season preparation.
Pochettino puts the team through tough training after the team suffered 46 different injuries during the 2022-23 season. The Argentine tactician is known for his high-pressing football, which requires high levels of physical exertion.
The Jacon Test is a test where players are required to cover 150 meters in 45 seconds, followed by 15 seconds of rest before the next rep. On each rep of 45 seconds, 6.25 meters is added to the distance.
According to the aforementioned report, Ben Chilwell has emerged as one of the top performers in the physical fitness test.
Speaking about Chelsea’s extensive pre-season fitness training, a source told the Evening Standard:
“They really worked, it was the hardest first week than the whole previous season. They’re going to be machines, this year it’s going to be different, these boys are working.”
The Blues had a tumultuous campaign last season. Despite breaking the bank in the transfer market, Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League and went through four different managers in the season. Pochettino has been brought in to steady the ship and give the club the right direction during the 2023-24 campaign.
The Argentine coach is clearly sharpening the ax at the moment heading into the new season.
Cesar Azpilicueta is leaving Chelsea after 11 years at Stamford Bridge
After 11 seasons and 508 matches, Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta has left Chelsea. The Spaniard was a stalwart of the Stamford Bridge club, winning numerous Premier League and Champions League titles with the Blues.
Azpilicueta joined La Liga giants Atletico Madrid to begin a new journey in his career. The 33-year-old defender paid an emotional farewell to his former club. He said (via the official Blues website):
“I’d like to say a lot of things, but I’ll keep it short. I want to say every time you’re part of this club that you do your best. That’s how I learned to be part of Chelsea.”
Azpilicueta added:
“The demands are really big, the commitment to the club, to the fans, every day, even in difficult moments when it would be easier to go a different path. This is the moment to show character, the spirit of the club, all together, pushing in the same direction.”
While he usually operated as a right-back, Azpilicueta occupied the left-back and centre-back position as well during his time in London. Chelsea fans will certainly be watching the Spaniard’s performance in La Liga with Atletico Madrid.
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