PICTURES: Sarri’s first Chelsea training session, including Jorginho and loanees

On Monday, Maurizio Sarri became the third coach in eight days to take charge of Chelsea pre-season training, following Antonio Conte and Eddie Newton. That’s got to be some sort of record. The issue should now be settled however. The Sarri era is now officially underway.

An expanded group of players participated on this, the first day of the rest of our Sarri lives, which meant several fresh, young, eager to learn faces joined the rest of the grizzled and not so grizzled veterans of the first-team. Presumably, this squad will be very similar to the one that departs later this week for the friendly in Perth next Monday (July 23).

Certainly a couple intriguing names in that list of 25, including Callum Hudson-Odoi, Charly Musonda, and Tammy Abraham, though it’s good to see Michael Hector, Lucas Piazon, and Mario Pasalic make their annual check-ins as well.

Conspicuous by their absence were the likes of Mason Mount (probably Derby-bound) and Jeremie Boga (probably Sassuolo-bound). Maybe next year, boys...

Sarri will conduct his first press conference on Wednesday. Until then, here is the old man in action on the training ground.

Grid View

• Sarri explains that “90% fun” is back to David Luiz Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
• David Luiz and Tomas Kalas drink in Sarri’s words Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
• Work work work work w...aittaminute Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
• Ampadu and Alonso paying great attention Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
• Jorginho wondering if he’s heard all this before Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
• Musonda and Pedro strike pose as Sarri tells them only one can survive the upcoming zombie apocalypse, which Lucas Piazon is about to demonstrate. Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
• Hudson-Odoi & Sarri ... the start of a beautiful partnership? Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
• Emerson, Palmer, and ... not Lake Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images