Chelsea are set to get their Premier League season underway this weekend with a trip to Goodison Park. The Blues take on Everton and former boss Frank Lampard looking to start the 2022/23 term well after an up and down 2021/22.
Thomas Tuchel's team endured a tough end to last season and found wins hard to come by as the club was cast into ownership uncertainty and the prospect of key players leaving. Heading into the summer, there plenty of fresh questions even as Todd Boehly and co finally completed their purchase of the club.
The departures of Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech, in addition to the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen left a number of gaps to fill and Boehly, as an interim-sporting director has made some headway with the additions of Kalidou Koulibaly, Raheem Sterling and Carney Chukwuemeka.
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Nevertheless, with more business to do, a number of failed signings and a mixed pre-season - plenty of questions remain and Thomas Tuchel will be around to answer them on Friday afternoon and with his actions on Merseyside. football.london takes a look at the issues the German coach will have to tackle.
Transfer business
Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana appear atop the Chelsea agenda at the moment and it seems unlikely that Tuchel will escape his press conference without being asked the latest. The 48-year-old is unlikely to divulge to many details in the aftermath of Brighton's statement in regard to Cucurella on Wednesday suggested a deal has not been done. However, with the Blues understood to have come to an agreement over a fee, and Levi Colwill possibly heading in the opposite direction it will be interesting to get the Chelsea boss' take on the current situation.
While Tuchel may not reveal much in relation to the individuals, he was not shy at the end of last season in acknowledging his team needed a rebuild. Perhaps he will provide an answer on how successful he believes that has been on the eve of the new term.
Cesar Azpilicueta's role
The Chelsea captain was one of a number of players who had a transfer in mind this summer. The defensive veteran saw a clause activated to extend his deal until 2023, but a possible move to Barcelona never felt off the cards. However, Azpilicueta has ended speculation over his future by agreeing to a one-year extension to his current contract that will keep the Spaniard at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2024.
Tuchel clearly rates Azpilicueta and spoke of his influence in May. He said: "He is everything Chelsea is about and I’m so happy that he’s the captain. He’s humble, hard-working and a nice, polite guy. "I’m happy it sets the example, the tone and the atmosphere on the very highest level. I’m very happy that it’s possible in football for a guy like this to win all the trophies and to really succeed at the top level."
Whether he has a regular role in the starting XI or will stay within the squad to ensure his leadership is present for consistency following a period of upheaval remains to be seen. Having been curiously absent from club media during pre-season, his role is set to be an important one going forwards, particularly with so many other players still expected to leave. Tuchel is sure to be asked about the importance of securing the defender's future.
Who has a secure future with the Blues?
The squad picked to face Everton will likely go some way to showing which players have a future with the Blues this season. Some figures set to depart could still make the cut, with Kepa Arrizabalaga still the standout second choice, despite a move to Napoli being on the cards.
Before the squad travels north however, the club have already indicated a number of players who aren't in their immediate plans with the release of the squad numbers this season. Harvey Vale, Billy Gilmour, Ross Barkley, Kenedy, Michy Batshuayi, Ethan Ampadu and Levi Colwill have all gone without a number thus far. Whether that suggests pending loan or permanent moves remains to be seen but it gives Tuchel a number of avenues to be asked about on Friday morning.
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