Why Club World Cup joy could backfire on Chelsea, who's in the bomb squad and the desperate requests influencers make to journalists: CHELSEA CONFIDENTIAL

Chelsea face a scheduling nightmare with staff internally looking at how best to make sure that reaching Sunday's Club World Cup final, while lucrative, does not derail their next domestic campaign.

The Blues are already guaranteed to take home at least £80million from this tournament, though there is some concern over the consequences of their long stretch in the United States. The final will be their 64th game of the 2024-25 season, with the squad knocking on 100 hours of football played overall.

Upon landing in London, Chelsea’s stars are set to receive a mandatory minimum of three weeks’ rest. That would mean returning to Cobham for pre-season training from around Tuesday, August 5.

They already have two Stamford Bridge friendlies scheduled with Bayer Leverkusen on Friday, August 8 and AC Milan on Sunday, August 10 – more on that in the next column item as it is believed the 'bomb squad' will have to be called into action.

Chelsea’s first Premier League fixture of 2025-26 is a home game with Crystal Palace on Sunday, August 17, by which time they will have had less than two weeks’ time to prepare.

History suggests the Premier League are unlikely to grant a delayed start to the season for Chelsea. Before this competition began, Manchester City broached the possibility of them starting their season later than their counterparts. No formal request was ever submitted as Pep Guardiola and Co were left with the impression that it would be rejected.

City’s early exit may have been a blessing in disguise in that case as it has given them more time to have a break and then return for pre-season.

Confidential has asked the Premier League whether they would be willing to reconsider their stance now that Chelsea have reached the final, and it is understood that they are reluctant to make any changes - and note the challenges created with FIFA expanding their calendar.

Palace, who we also approached, would also be expected to push back against any postponement which would give their opponents time to take them on in a stronger position.

Two August friendlies to put ‘bomb squad’ players in shop window

Those left out of Chelsea’s Club World Cup squad – commonly branded the ‘bomb squad’, rightly or wrongly – are currently on their holidays.

That includes Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, Joao Felix, Djordje Petrovic, Armando Broja and Renato Veiga, among others. Confidential has learned some of those above are still awaiting word on when they should report back to Cobham to begin training again, having not yet been given a return date.

With Chelsea reaching the Club World Cup final, and those who did travel to the United States being entitled to three weeks’ holiday once they exit, the Blues may need to rely on their fringe stars for the two friendlies coming up in early August.

If not sold or loaned by then, Chilwell, Sterling and Co could feature versus Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan at Stamford Bridge. With tongue in cheek, one source said it could be ‘a showcase event for the bomb squad’.

Arsenal closing in on Madueke

Chelsea are contractually obliged by FIFA to put up three players before each Club World Cup fixture. We have spoken to plenty of them – so many that they are now being recycled, with us having spoken to Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos and Dario Essugo twice – but not Noni Madueke.

You can imagine why. It's because we would be quizzing him on his future amid Arsenal’s interest in him.

The Gunners are now in direct talks with Chelsea over Madueke, who is available for around £50million with the 18-year-old wonderkid Estevao Willian coming in this summer. The Brazilian teenager scored against his future employers for Palmeiras last week.

Madueke is also open to moving to the Emirates Stadium after agreeing personal terms. He has had discipline issues in the past, including under Enzo Maresca last season, and has not started Chelsea’s last three games like usual amid the noise surrounding him and Arsenal. Maresca seems concerned he has lost his focus.

Nicolas Jackson is another with whom we have not spoken before a game. While Chelsea are not actively pushing him as a potential sale in the market, Jackson is not considered untouchable if another club shows interest, with two other strikers in Joao Pedro and Liam Delap having arrived this summer. Both have shown their potential at this Club World Cup.

Influencers offering cash to get Premier League fixtures list

Last month when the Premier League fixtures were being announced for 2025-26, there were football influencers unscrupulously offering money to journalists in private messages on social media in exchange for being leaked the list so they could prove they are indeed in the know to their followers.

We receive it early under strict embargo, but you will struggle to find a journalist who would jeopardise their job for a quick buck. The offers came in at less than £100 in the messages I’ve seen and were not taken up.

Cherries make bid for Petrovic 

Bournemouth have submitted an offer for Djordje Petrovic.

While the numbers of their bid is not yet known, Chelsea are determined to receive at least £25million tor their goalkeeper who spent the last season on loan at Strasbourg. Petrovic did not travel to the United States with his Blues team-mates.

Other clubs remain interested – including Chelsea’s sister club in France – but Bournemouth are looking to move into the lead. They also had Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan last season. 

How Chelsea’s stars would spend their three weeks of downtime

While Chelsea’s players will have three weeks of downtime once they are out of this Club World Cup, these tend to be athletes who are addicted to staying as fit as possible.

Confidential spoke to Levi Colwill a fortnight ago in the United States and asked him how he would spend it.

Colwill said he personally would have a week of chilling with friends and family, but then would begin training individually while away on holiday, partly out of fear that he would get into trouble with Maresca if he returned for pre-season at Cobham in less than tip-top condition.

No bonus for Enzo

I mentioned to Maresca after Chelsea’s semi-final win over Fluminense that they had now secured more than £80m in prize money from FIFA.

‘Not me,’ Maresca said. Indeed, the 45-year-old Italian was understood to not receive a bonus for winning Chelsea the Conference League, and neither is it believed he has one built into his contract should they triumph in the Club World Cup.

However, Maresca will be hoping that some of the money he has made will come back to him in signings. He has told those above him the areas that he believes need improving.

Will Caicedo be fit for the final?

Chelsea are crossing everything in the hope that Moises Caicedo, who will undergo tests on his ankle after a rest day was scheduled for the entire squad today, will be fit for Sunday's showdown.

Dario Essugo was signed as his back-up but in terrible timing, the 20-year-old defensive midfielder picked up a muscular problem which is set to rule him out of the final also.

Caicedo has so often defied logic in making himself seem indestructible so there remains hope that he can return to try to help the club become world champions.

MetLife not the wisest choice…

MetLife Stadium in New Jersey – essentially a monstrous £1billion arena positioned in the middle of a gigantic car park – appears an awful choice for next year’s 2026 World Cup final in its current state.

Fans flying to the United States would find it is an utter farce to try to reach via public transport unless you fancy paying more than $100 for an Uber from Manhattan and that’s only one way.

With no shaded areas surrounding the stadium – like I said, it’s a car park – supporters have been melting in the heatwave hitting here.

We can only assume the bright lights of New York blinded FIFA when choosing this stadium.

Meanwhile, Confidential passed FIFA president Gianni Infantino as he was leaving the MetLife the other day after Real Madrid’s 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund. He was stopping to take selfies with supporters before getting into his chauffeur-driven car.