After a break for the November international fixtures, our Under-21s are set to dive back into club action with two matches in the space of four days. First, our focus is on the Premier League International Cup, where Chelsea's campaign has been mixed so far, with one win and one loss in the competition.

Our most recent outing at Kingsmeadow against foreign opposition was a memorable one, as we secured all three points with a dominant 4-0 victory over Anderlecht in October, our free-scoring attacking performance complemented by a commanding clean sheet.

That evening showcased the depth and confidence of our Under-21s squad, with four different players finding the back of the net, as Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Tyrique George, Deivid Washington and Samuel Rak-Sakyi all made their mark on the game in front of our home supporters.

Coelho is hoping for a repeat of that performance against the Belgians, to bounce back from the disappointment of defeat in our last match before the break, 4-3 at Derby County in the Premier League Cup group stage.

'We came back from the international break and then it was about using training to refocus on the competition,' said our Portuguese head coach. 'The focus is back on our routines, game plans and what we want to achieve.

'Although it was a tough result to take before the international break against Derby, we want to focus on what’s ahead. We want to focus on how we can be more aggressive, especially in terms of defensive shape and individual tasks.

'Last time in this competition, we performed very well. However, as I’ve said before, the journey is long and development is still ongoing.

'Many things have happened since the start of the season, both good and bad, and we’ve learned from them. We’ve had some positive results, but our goal is to make it to the knockout stages of the Premier League International Cup and we want to perform well tomorrow.'

This continental competition offers our players the chance to compete against opponents they wouldn't normally face in competitions like the Premier League 2 - and who often play in men's leagues domestically - giving them valuable opportunities to develop and gain experience as they progress in their footballing careers.

Coelho continued: 'We know that Real Sociedad are a tough side who will give their all against us. Like in every game, my players need to be at their best. I want to see aggression and passion from each one of them, whether they’ve stepped up to the first team or have been substitutes in previous matches.

'I’ve told my team that I want to see their top performance at Kingsmeadow and for them to showcase themselves in every aspect of the game. We want to be the best and we need to be if we’re going to win this competition.

'There are some very strong teams and we’re facing difficult challenges. But in tough times, we see the character of our players and that’s when we can bring out the best in them.'

Support our Blues

There is still time to secure your seat for Chelsea Under-21s' fixture against Real Sociedad in the Premier League International Cup, taking place on Tuesday evening at 7pm. The period for season ticket holders, members and under-20s to claim their free ticket is now closed, but general admission tickets are still available priced at £4.

If you cannot make it to Kingsmeadow, supporters worldwide can watch all the action for free in our live stream on the official Chelsea app and website, via the Chelsea Under-21s vs Real Sociedad Match Centre.