Pochettino's plan and training insight - Inside the first week of Chelsea's USA pre-season tour

Chelsea have completed a week of the USA pre-season tour and are standing tall. Two wins and nine goals have got Mauricio Pochettino's tenure as Chelsea head coach off to a dream start following a 12-month period where such outcomes have not arrived easily.

While the pressure of managing the Blues has not yet intensified for Pochettino, heat and humidity certainly has during the club's time across the Atlantic. Both Chapel Hill, North Carolina and and Philadelphia have brought temperatures in excess of 30 degrees as the west London side regularly complete two training sessions each day. The squad did not even scarper when the sprinklers turned on in the middle of a drill during one session.

Early results have brought a positivity that was not present on Chelsea's pre-season tour a year ago. Discontent with training facilities, a commitment to players destined to depart Stamford Bridge and strained relationships ensured a difficult time in 2022.

Perception is everything in many ways, and while some players only found out they would be travelling with the squad the day they flew out, and others know their future will lie elsewhere come the start of the season, there is a sense of progress that cannot be ignored. Pochettino has made it clear that he plans to continue providing opportunities and managing minutes across a busy schedule, and with his squad yet to be complete.

It is clear that the former Spurs boss is working his team relentlessly. His demand for perfection and the intensity he desires has been present in training, while Marc Cucurella has commented on enjoying seeing his teammates in pain.

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While that has been the case, he