With Chelsea’s opening match in the Club World Cup drawing near, birthday-boy Victor Moses reports the players have worked the long flight out of their systems and are raring to go.
The squad arrived in Japan on Sunday evening local time and have trained every day since. While Monday was more about recovery from the Sunderland game than looking forward to the meeting with Mexican side Monterrey, Tuesday was notably different.
‘It was a full session and we are working hard,’ Moses tells the official Chelsea website.
‘The first days were a little bit tiring because everyone had jet lag and it was all about getting used to the time difference, but Tuesday was alright and everybody was looking forward to the training. We are used to it now and we are enjoying every minute of it.
‘At the moment we are working on getting our team shape right, making sure we are in the right positions and soon we will start talking about the opposition and how we are going to beat them.’
Moses may have youth on his side, he turns 22 today, but he has a varied football experience already, including previous experience of playing a tournament in Japan.
Having won a national championship with his school – the Whitgift in south London – part of the reward was an invitation to play in the Far East. So Moses and his team mates travelled over with his school coach, former Chelsea captain Colin Pates.
‘It was all Japanese sides we played but we didn’t win the tournament, they were just too good,’ he recalls. ‘But it was a good experience at that age.
‘It is interesting, coming back here again, it is different coming with a club. I am delighted with it, it is a good experience as well.’
Moses has started the last three games, his best run in the side so far. His direct running is being used to effect in wide positions.
‘I am getting used to it, I am enjoying it, and I am just working hard for the team.
‘There are a lot of quality players here and playing alongside them is helping my game as well. I just want to enjoy every single bit. I am getting on with the boys and I am really settling down.
‘Whenever I am on the pitch I just want to enjoy my football, get at defenders, get past them and try to create goals for team mates and also score some as well.’