Mauricio Pochettino opens up about this current Chelsea pre season training and he said its the “Toughest preseason for years”

Mauricio Pochettino opens up about this current Chelsea pre season training and he said its the “Toughest preseason for years”.

It’s all been big smiles and big hugs in the photos and videos from Chelsea’s preseason training so far.

But behind the scenes, things aren’t so pretty. Mauricio Pochettino is seriously putting his team through their paces, according to this in depth piece from Simon Johnson of the Athletic.

He says that the initial focus of Pochettino’s first preseason has been fitness, with the players’ physical capabilities identified as a “real weakness” from last season.

Sources close to the players are apparently saying that this is the “toughest preseason for years,” and that “standards are significantly higher” than they have been in recent times.

We love to hear it – but then again this is what you always hear when a new coach comes in. They always want to stamp their authority on a group with some gruelling physical action. The real test comes when we see it in action in the friendlies.