Preparing for our five-day trip to Germany, Nicolas Anelka admits it is a pleasant change not to be away on tour for a fortnight.
The World Cup and the subsequent holidays of our involved players meant a lengthy trip overseas, as has become the norm in recent seasons, was not possible this time around, but instead the Frenchman will be joining his team-mates for a pair of friendlies, against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday and Hamburg on Wednesday.
'In my career tours have been a regular thing, going away, with Chelsea we have been to China and America, and with other clubs to Korea, Austria, Spain,' recalled the 31-year-old. 'I prefer to stay here at the training ground for longer, to train and go home.
'When you have kids and a family you want to see them, and it is great to be back in training and at the same time to be able to come home, like you are already in the season, but it will be good to be away together as a team for a few days, and I hope we can go there and come back with good results.'
It is a common belief that results do not matter in pre-season games, that building fitness is the only factor worth noting. But for Anelka, winning these matches ranks just as highly on the agenda.
'We have two games in Germany, so we play them and we want to win them, that's the most important thing. It is good to start in that way before the season, we have a good team and when you play for Chelsea you have to win all your games, so we will go there and try to come back with good results,' he explained.
'Training so far has been good and I feel fit, we worked very hard and it will be harder and harder until the beginning of the season.
'After a few days you want to be out playing matches again,' explained the forward, who reported back on July 22. 'I like my football so when I come back, I can't wait to be on the pitch and playing.
'I have been playing for so long and I still want to play and win every game. When you have this kind of mentality and play at this kind of club you want to play, enjoy your football and win your games.
'When we are back from Germany, we have the Community Shield which is a big game, but for the players the most important is to be fit for the first league game against West Bromwich Albion.'
There are just over two weeks until Roberto Di Matteo brings his newly promoted Baggies to Stamford Bridge for our Barclays Premier League curtain-raiser. Chelsea fans, like Anelka, will be hoping we enter that game with a series of wins already achieved.
The World Cup and the subsequent holidays of our involved players meant a lengthy trip overseas, as has become the norm in recent seasons, was not possible this time around, but instead the Frenchman will be joining his team-mates for a pair of friendlies, against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday and Hamburg on Wednesday.
'In my career tours have been a regular thing, going away, with Chelsea we have been to China and America, and with other clubs to Korea, Austria, Spain,' recalled the 31-year-old. 'I prefer to stay here at the training ground for longer, to train and go home.
'When you have kids and a family you want to see them, and it is great to be back in training and at the same time to be able to come home, like you are already in the season, but it will be good to be away together as a team for a few days, and I hope we can go there and come back with good results.'
It is a common belief that results do not matter in pre-season games, that building fitness is the only factor worth noting. But for Anelka, winning these matches ranks just as highly on the agenda.
'We have two games in Germany, so we play them and we want to win them, that's the most important thing. It is good to start in that way before the season, we have a good team and when you play for Chelsea you have to win all your games, so we will go there and try to come back with good results,' he explained.
'Training so far has been good and I feel fit, we worked very hard and it will be harder and harder until the beginning of the season.
'After a few days you want to be out playing matches again,' explained the forward, who reported back on July 22. 'I like my football so when I come back, I can't wait to be on the pitch and playing.
'I have been playing for so long and I still want to play and win every game. When you have this kind of mentality and play at this kind of club you want to play, enjoy your football and win your games.
'When we are back from Germany, we have the Community Shield which is a big game, but for the players the most important is to be fit for the first league game against West Bromwich Albion.'
There are just over two weeks until Roberto Di Matteo brings his newly promoted Baggies to Stamford Bridge for our Barclays Premier League curtain-raiser. Chelsea fans, like Anelka, will be hoping we enter that game with a series of wins already achieved.
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