Chelsea Preseason Preparations Hit Snag With Four Players Isolated

Chelsea F.C. looms as one of the exciting teams to watch next season although Frank Lampard still needs to get everyone aligned. Unfortunately, their preseason preparations have hit a snag with four players testing positive for COVID-19.

According to Goal, the Blues have four players in isolation. They are Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Fikayo Tomori. However, it was not mentioned if they are the four players who tested positive for the coronavirus.

Chelsea players from the first team underwent coronavirus testing at the end of last week when they returned from training. It was part of the Premier League protocol in preparation for the new season set to start on Sept. 12. Their first official game will be on Sept. 14, ironically also against Brighton.

With no validation that the four players were the ones who tested positive for COVID-19, they may be isolated under the guidelines enforced in the United Kingdom.

The four players mentioned returned from vacationing in Mykonos while four others are staying away from the training grounds under the COVID-19 guidelines. Emerson is reportedly part of that group of players, The Guardian reported.

Either way, this development has hampered the preparations of the Blues for next season. However, they are not the only club who came out with players testing positive for COVID-19. Sheffield United, West Ham and Brighton also saw some players testing positive for the coronavirus and their identities were not divulged. A total of 14 positive cases have been confirmed among the 12 clubs.

The development may also put a damper on the plan for a pilot scheme to have fans back in the stands. Chelsea was part of this but this occurrence is expected to raise questions. The Blues were set to meet Brighton on Saturday at the Seagull’s Amex Stadium with 2,500 spectators on hand.

"I know fans and their teams can't wait to be reunited in stadia across the country, but it's imperative we take a cautious and phased approach to get fans back in safely," Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said via Sky Sports.

As far as transfers, Chelsea has secured the services of Malang Sarr and Ben Chilwell. Sarr will be loaned to Germany with three clubs interested. Chilwell’s move to Stamford Bridge was completed following a completed transaction with Leicester City.