Filipe Coelho’s Chelsea Under-21s side is set to welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Kingsmeadow in the Premier League 2 on Friday evening for our opening game of the season, with tickets still available for the big home derby.

The last time these London rivals met, Spurs emerged victorious in the semi-finals of the Premier League 2 play-offs under former coach Mark Robinson at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Despite a goal from Deivid Washington, Spurs secured a narrow 2-1 win with efforts from Will Lankshear and Nile John, the winner coming in added time, then went on to eventually clinch the trophy by defeating Sunderland.

Looking ahead to this big first-day fixture, our Portuguese head coach is eager for his first competitive win since joining the club, as he shares his expectations for the players.

'It's been an impressive couple of weeks,' smiled Coelho. 'The players are receiving the advice and information well. It's not just about how we want to play, but about the mentality and the way we want to be.

'We want to play as a team, not just as individuals. That is important to me.

'I'm ready to serve Chelsea. The main objective is player development and how the players work together. The players will need to rely on their team-mates because football is a team sport. We have to work well together.

'We want to win trophies. We aim to win the Premier League 2 and all other competitions, that's why we're Chelsea.

'I know this is the first game and there might be some mistakes and challenges, but we will grow from them. It’s about how quickly we recover and learn. Our players need to have resilience.'

Although this will be the first time the players will be seen in competitive action since May, the team has had an extremely busy pre-season filled with friendly fixtures to prepare for Friday’s game.

We played a series of pre-season games against teams from League One and League Two, before our final fixture against Brentford B. In a confident and dominating performance, the side secured a convincing 5-1 victory.

In that fixture, a variety of players showcased the young squad's vast talent. First-year scholar Shumaira Mheuka scored twice, while Tyrique George and Ishe Samuels-Smith each added a goal. Jimmy-Jay Morgan then capped off the afternoon by converting a penalty.

'We are ready for Tottenham,' Coelho continued. 'During pre-season, we competed in friendly matches to get a feel of the competitive nature, which has prepared us.

'We faced difficulties throughout pre-season, but overcoming them has made us stronger. Champions must overcome challenges.

'Facing Tottenham, the current winners, is a great way to start the season. As I said, we are ready for the challenges.

'I want to see a bold and fierce team. We need to dominate and, when we lose the ball, we must be ready to react. We have trained hard and prepared for every possible situation.

'I'm sure we will put on a performance, we just need to put our all into it.'

Support the next generation

Our Under-21s are the first Chelsea side in competitive action in the 2024/25 season and tickets are available here to secure your seat for the game, priced £7 for adults and £5 for junior or senior supporters.

Tickets are also on sale for our next home fixture the following Friday, when we will host Everton at Kingsmeadow at 7pm. Get your tickets now to support the future of the Blues.