Chelsea’s first wave of players are back in preseason training, and this really is the strangest time of year.
The internationals are still on holiday, so it’s a bizarre mix of youngsters and mediocre loanees showing the manager what they can do – knowing full well that almost none of them will be in his plans for the season.
One player trying their best to turn things around is Charly Musonda, who has had a career blighted by injury. SportWitness have a translated interview from Het Niewsblad where he explains his recovery from successive surgeries:
“It was a struggle. For three years I missed what I love most: playing football. I was in pain and sometimes didn’t sleep, but a comeback is only heroic when no one thinks it possible.
“I’m on the right track. I do believe I have ten more beautiful years in my legs when I return. I feel like a boxer getting ready for his ultimate fight.”
The Belgian paper also makes it clear that the winger knows “this is his last chance” with Chelsea, who have had him on the books for years without ever really seeing him play.
Even that seems ambitious – a loan to somewhere he can play often seems more likely at this stage.
But even that would have to be considered a victory given how close he came to giving up on football entirely.
