How Chelsea Premier League champion Glen Johnson keeps calm at the club World Cup, Reece James and Terry and Desailly
Glen Johnson believes Chelsea’s young side can win the Premier League with Blues next season – but the former England defender knows their club’s World Cup campaign could cost Enzo Maresca’s players.
The six-time champions have not won a reliable title bid since their last victory in 2016/17, and Maresca is also facing a challenge between the end of the U.S. race and Crystal Palace visiting their top flight schedule.
“It’s a great concept from a fan’s perspective when you have the best teams in the world playing against each other and you don’t usually see that,” Johnson said of the FIFA’s expanded club World Cup.
“As a player, you look forward to the summer because you need a break to handle a demanding season, so there are many other competitive games that aren’t good when you can.
“These games are demanding, they’ve played so many football games now. Going to big games or something – when do boys get off?”
Chelsea can challenge the Premier League – Johnson
Chelsea finished fourth in Maresca’s first season, winning two wins in 10 league matches between December and February, and despite the huge investment, their strong start turned their strong start into a battle for Champions League qualification.
“The biggest thing that disappointed them last year was consistency,” Johnson said.
“They did some show and you thought ‘bloody hell – they would be hard to beat’, but then they would lose a stupid game that wouldn’t be able to do if you were to win the championship.
“The games I’ve watched on the bridge, I think they’re the best games I’ve seen in years, but then they’ll disappear in the next game.”
John Terry: Chelsea legend ‘eliminates pressure’
Maresca once again had a busy summer on the court, which included a signing of forward Joao Pedro from Brighton and Hove Albion and for £60m and winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, up to £52m.
Forward Liam Delap arrived from Ipswich Town for £30m, while winger Estevao is about to complete a £52m relocation from Palmeiras and midfielder Dario Essugo for £185m, including a group of signings of distinct age.
“I like that they’re happy to spend money on young people, spend money on the future,” Johnson said. Johnson signed the 18-year-old in 2003 and won the 2004/05 Premier League and EFL Cup in four years, part of a team like legend John Terry.
“At the same time, you need to balance with current players who can compete almost immediately. Hell of our mature players – most of the lads are already international players.
“We’re more inclined toward daimyos, where you know what you’re getting. You’re going to make me 18 and others around 25.”
“You’re not too afraid to make mistakes because you have Marcel Desailly or JT next to you [Terry] Or someone like this.
Happy birthday, JT! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/5alrubbyyk
– Chelsea Football Club (@chelseafc) December 7, 2018
“It’s not that you’re making a game-changing mistake, but it’s just putting some pressure on you.
“They trust you because they know what you can do together to train. If they don’t want or need you, you won’t play.
“They just can keep you calm and stop you from being too helpless. When we win 1-0 or something like that, they stop you from being excited and being too involved in the attack and just learn the game while playing.”
Reese James: Hurt “Destructive”
One of Johnson’s successors to the club and country right back, Reece James is a player with a high-risk schedule as a series of injuries limits availability for the 25-year-old.
“He usually plays a few games and then his body lets him down,” said Johnson, who understands James’ dilemma. “He just had to try to manage his body and have a little luck.
“It’s hard to get the game first when you come out of the treatment room. Then there’s the building power. We all hate being in the treatment room, so when you leave, you’re buzzing.
“Going back there after two or three games was just destroying the soul. I did it a lot of times – every time they said to me ‘It’s going to be eight weeks’, I’ll try to turn it into four or five because you don’t want to be there.
“You feel good, but when you get back, your push isn’t as hard as you work on game day – so to speak, so to speak, and take a moment.
“But then you have to do what you have to do, that is, you can start to get hurt again. It’s because the lads want to come back to play.”
Club World Cup: Chelsea vs fluminense
Chelsea faced Fluminense in the Brazilian side of the New Jersey club semifinals on Tuesday (20:00 BST), when the victory would send them to the finals against Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid on Sunday (20:00).
While the finals are very profitable for the club, there is a lot of debate over whether the player is subject to risk injury at the end of the nine months of the often-seasoned nine months.
“You don’t want to [get injured] Johnson noted that Johnson’s achievements in his 16-year career include a FA Cup victory with Portsmouth in 2008, where he held the EFL Cup with Liverpool in 2012 and won two versions of the 2012 World Cup and the 2012 European Euro.
“They don’t need preseason because they won’t be working long enough to fit.
“To be healthy, you push yourself in due course. But at the same time, you think ‘it’s not as important as the first game of the Premier League season’ and you need to be fit enough.”
Chelsea at Club World Cup: Live broadcast, British TV channel
Real-time coverage of Chelsea semifinals is on DAZN, with its potential finals on the platform and Channel 5.
DAZN subscribers or freemium members can be adjusted as part of their existing membership, while non-subscribers can sign up for a free account to start watching.
Fans can watch it through the DAZN and Channel 5 apps on smart TVs, phones, tablets, gaming consoles and streaming devices.
Chelsea Club World Cup
goalkeeper: Filip Jorgensen, Mike Penders, Robert Sanchez, Gaga Slonina
Defenders: Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Aaron Anselmino, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Malo Gusto, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Mamadou Sarr
Midfielder: Moises Caicedo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Dario Essugo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos
forward: Liam Delap, Tyrique George, Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer
When will Chelsea’s 2025/26 Premier League season begin and end?
On the last day of 2024/25, Chelsea qualified for the FA Cup Champions Palace in the first match week of the 2025/26 season.
On Sunday, August 17, the match at Stamford Bridge was 14:00, live in the Premier League and Ultra in the UK.
The final round will begin on May 24, 2026. There will be no rounds between each other and there will be no fixtures on December 24.
