USA Tour 2024: How facing Celtic shaped a new Chelsea era

Our second pre-season match during our tour of the USA brings us to Indiana where we will face Celtic. It's been nearly twenty years since one of the most iconic Chelsea careers started with a match against the same team.

One of the great things about the pre-season is that it gives us a chance to see the new players who have recently joined Chelsea or the young players who have come up from the Academy. There's a chance that we might witness the beginning of something extraordinary.

Our upcoming match against the top team from Scotland will be happening at the famous university stadium in Notre Dame on Saturday, July 27th. If you go back in time 20 years to July 24th, 2004, you can remember when Chelsea and Celtic faced off in Seattle.

Don't pass up the opportunity to create lasting memories when Chelsea comes to the United States this summer.

This was the second exhibition match of the summer for the Blues, with new head coach Jose Mourinho at the helm. In Washington State, on a hot afternoon, Craig Beattie scored to equalize Alexei Smertin's early goal, resulting in a 1-1 draw at halftime.

Mourinho replaced six players during half-time. The most noteworthy change was in the goalkeeper position, with Petr Cech making his first appearance for our team.

And so started an incredible 11-year career as a goalkeeper, reaching heights that people in Seattle never expected. Chelsea won 4-2 and by the start of the season, Mourinho had selected Cech as his top choice goalkeeper.

Another player who stood out on the field for the first time in blue that day was Arjen Robben. He made a skillful run and pass to Eidur Gudjohnsen, hinting at more impressive plays to follow.

At the end of the season, Chelsea won the Premier League and the League Cup with Cech's outstanding goalkeeping skills and Robben's impressive attacks. This success planted a small idea in Seattle.

This time, the teams are facing off in Indiana, located in the Midwest of the United States. It is the second match we have played in this state. Our first game, a 2-0 victory against Inter Milan in 2013, still holds the record for the highest attendance at a soccer game in Indiana.

Nearly 42,000 spectators witnessed Oscar and Eden Hazard scoring goals that led to Mourinho's team, the Blues, winning at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

You have the chance to be part of breaking that record, as tickets are currently available for purchase. Who knows, you may even witness the beginning of someone achieving remarkable success.

Chelsea will be facing off against Celtic on Saturday, July 27th at Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana. Don't miss out on the chance to purchase tickets or buy Club Chelsea hospitality packages today.