Chelsea have announced their new away kit with a bizarre launch video shot on location during the Premier League side’s pre-season tour of the US.
Stars including Mykhailo Mudryk and Nicolas Jackson feature in the release of the white shirt, with blue and orange trim, which is set in a diner in San Jose.
The launch comes just two days after the Blues were smashed 4-1 by Celtic in Notre Dame, Indiana, amid a tour of the States which has been plagued by scandals and poor results.
The Enzo Fernandez racism saga, which saw the midfielder forced to apologise for a ‘racist’ song performed on the Argentina team bus, has overshadowed the trip and left new boss Enzo Maresca’s dressing room split.
And fans have now been left confused by a left-field kit launch clip which features a woman dancing in the new shirt in a restaurant in America.
Chelsea have announced their new away kit with a bizarre launch video, starring Nicolas Jackson
It features a woman dancing in the new kit in a San Jose diner
The clip begins in ‘The Smoking Lion’ diner in San Jose, California, whose logo, which spins atop the building, happens to be the Chelsea badge.
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Inside, people are eating food – although one person decides instead to throw theirs at someone else – when a vinyl record is put on and the cooking hobs are turned off.
The chef then shouts, ‘We lost the fire!’, to which his colleague replies, ‘It’s gonna get cold in here again’, at which point the camera pans to a model of Chelsea forward Cole ‘Cold’ Palmer.
A woman then enters the building and unzips her hoodie to reveal the new Chelsea away kit before dancing for the rest of the video as players, including Jackson, Mudryk and Malo Gusto, watch on.
There’s lots of special effects, involving blue flames and infra-red heat, before the unusual video ends with a group photo of everyone in the kit.
The release comes halfway through a trip to America which has posed new manager Maresca more problems than solutions.
The 4-1 loss to Celtic was a timely reminder of the job the Italian boss has on his hands and the score was only softened by a last-minute Christopher Nkunku spot kick.
Prior to that, the Blues had spared themselves even greater blushes when an 82nd-minute Lesley Ugochukwu equaliser rescued a 2-2 draw to League One Wrexham in San Jose.
At one point, the chef shouts, ‘We lost the fire!’, and his colleague replies, ‘It’s gonna get cold in here again’, at which point the camera pans to a model of Chelsea forward Cole ‘Cold’ Palmer
Players including Malo Gusto watch on as the woman dances in the white shirt
Mykhailo Mudrk also features in the video shot on tour during the side’s pre-season visit to US
Maresca, who joined the London side after winning the Championship last season with Leicester City, is clearly aware of the need for a rebuild and has already made six new signings for the Blues.
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The most expensive of those additions so far has been £30million man Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who Maresca signed from the Foxes. Dewsbury-Hall was just another of the more than 30 players Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has bought on his spending spree worth over £1billion since taking over the club in June 2022.
The Blues have also added Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham as well as youngsters Marc Guiu, Caleb Wiley, Renato Veiga and Omari Kellyman this summer.
The Blues are currently on pre-season tour in the USA and the squad looks set to welcome two new signings.
Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is set to join for £20.7million, with the 22-year-old shot-stopper flying to the United States to finalise the move.
Boca Juniors defender Aaron Anselmino is not expected to link up with the squad in the US but will instead undergo a medical in London, Mail Sport has been told. Anselmino will cost around £15.6m.
Teething problems were to be expected as Maresca attempts to instill a new style of play into the club.
They are due to play Club America on Wednesday, by which time the signing of Jorgensen should be confirmed.
Chelsea will then play their penultimate game of their tour of the USA against Premier League rivals Manchester City. That game will take place in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday 3 August.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall followed Maresca to Chelsea from Leicester after the pair were promoted together while Tosin Adarabioyo has joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Fulham
Todd Boehly has spent a eye-watering more than £1billion on transfers since becoming owner
Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is set to join Chelsea for £20.7million – the 22-year-old shot-stopper is flying out to the United States to finalise the move to Enzo Maresca’s side
19-year-old Boca Juniors defender Aaron Anselmino is expected to sign for Chelsea for £15.6m but may return to Argentina to play for Boca on loan rather than becoming a regular starter
Pep Guardiola’s English champions were also beaten by Celtic, losing 4-3 in a thrilling encounter in hot conditions in North Carolina.
Three days after facing the Sky Blues, Chelsea also travel to North Carolina for their final game of the tour in Charlotte.
There they will face current Champions League holders Real Madrid at the Bank of America Stadium.