Blues tour is pure torture

PHIL SCOLARI is facing his first test as Chelsea boss — with dressing-room unrest over the club’s globetrotting pre-season tour. Several senior players are angry at trekking to China, Malaysia and Russia in sweltering conditions just a few weeks ahead of the Premier League’s August 16 kick-off. The Blues, led by skipper John Terry, play the second game of a 15-day trip tonight against Cheng Du Blades in Macau, seven hours ahead of UK time. Next week they fly to Malaysia and then on to Moscow, for the four-team Railways Cup. Temperatures at Chelsea’s current base are near 100 degrees and players have complained at being jet-lagged and exhausted. A source called it ‘the worst possible preparations for the season’ and added: “Some players have been unable to sleep and don’t know if they are coming or going. “It’s only going to... [read full story]