Chelsea news: Thomas Tuchel previously vented his frustration at the organisation of last summer's US tour and Todd Boehly must avoid repeating the issue this summer
Graham Potter's first pre-season at Chelsea will see his side make a return to the USA despite last season's disastrous trip under Thomas Tuchel.
The Blues played three games in the United States as part of their preparations for the 2022/23 season. They managed to win only one game, against Mexican side Club America, followed by a penalty shoot-out loss to Charlotte FC and a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal in Orlando.
"A lot of travelling, another time zone, a totally different feeling of temperature, high humidity, so very demanding for first training and the players are struggling with the heat," Tuchel told Chelsea's in-house media last summer.
"We give maybe more time and space to drink - more break - but we can't hide from the fact we're in pre-season and we have to, somehow, put kilometres into the legs. From this point, we don't adapt."
The German added: "It's not my favourite thing to do and in the long run, the focus has to be on coaching because that is why I am here. But at the moment of course my help is needed and wanted and is of course necessary that I step up and take the responsibility."
Fast forward nearly a year later and this summer's trip will have had more planning time for Boehly and American-based co-owners Clearlake Capital to finalise plans to avoid another poor pre-season.
"Organisationally, the tour didn't work as well as they'd like. I wasn't there so I can't say. We thought we made progress, but the first half against Southampton was below par. The sky can fall. These are some of the facts. Inconvenient facts, but that's the situation."