Chelsea kick off their International Champions Cup tournament at the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday, as they take on the eponymous New York MLS team. José Mourinho's side have brought only one new addition on the tour, with former Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begović hopeful of his first appearance after replacing Petr Čech as the second-in-command to Thibaut Courtois.
Red Bulls vs. Chelsea 2015: Time, TV schedule and how to watch International Champions Cup online
Chelsea kick off their ICC campaign against the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday.
Matt King/Getty Images
That could mean they’re not quite as rusty as some of the other teams at this tournament as their team familiarity should already be pretty good. It’s unlikely that Mourinho is going to spring an innovative tactical surprise, and that will likely mean they’re able to get up to speed pretty quickly. They’ll undoubtedly be looking to come away with a victory, though could find it harder than anticipated against one of the United States’ top teams.
How close to a first team do Chelsea have?
They've brought along all of their star players to this tournament, and they should all be fit to play. Expect to get a glimpse of the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa. The only notable first-team regular missing is Willian, who has been enjoying some post-Copa América relaxation alongside Juan Cuadrado and new boy Radamel Falcao. 9/10.
What are the chances the Red Bulls get trounced?
A defeat seems likely, a trouncing doesn't. This is only the second game of Chelsea's preseason and that means they're going to be a little disjointed, even with their star players intact. The Red Bulls are also strong enough to avoid buckling if they concede. 3/10.
Fun Chelsea fringe player to watch: Bertrand Traoré
Attacker Bertrand Traoré is regarded as one of Chelsea’s top youth prospects, with the youngster having made his international debut for Burkina Faso at just 15. Now 19 years old, he’ll be looking to use preseason to stake a claim for a place in the first team.
Compared to other friendlies, is this worth my time?
This game is intriguing in that it marks the start of Chelsea’s preseason proper, and it pits England’s best against one of the United States’ top teams. However, there won’t be a parade of new signings on show, and it’d be understandable if the neutral gave it a miss. 5/10.
Match date/time: Wednesday, 8:05 p.m. ET/local
Venue: Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
TV: Fox Soccer Plus (U.S. - English), ESPN Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Chelsea TV (U.K.)
Online: FOX Soccer 2 Go, WATCH ESPN (U.S.)
★★★
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