International Champions Cup Preview: Chelsea v Inter

Inter striker Ishak Belfodil has conceded his side may not be as well prepared as Chelsea for their International Champions Cup clash.

The two sides will meet in Indianapolis on Thursday in their first match of the eight-team tournament, with Chelsea likely to benefit from being much deeper into their preparations for the new season.

Jose Mourinho’s side have already taken in a tour of Asia, while Inter have played just two fixtures since returning to training and although Belfodil knows his side will face a tough test against the Premier League club, he is excited by the challenge.

“It’s a great feeling for me,” the 21-year-old told the club’s official website.

“I had never been to America before and now we’re taking part in a prestigious tournament.

“As soon as we arrived we performed a light workout, and now the following day the work has become more intense to prepare for the match against Chelsea.

“We know Chelsea are a great team and that they’re a bit ahead of us in terms of preparation, but we’ll give our all.”

The young forward signed for the Serie A club from Parma, for whom he scored eight goals in 33 league appearances last season.

However, he will likely face a difficult task against Chelsea, who have named a strong 25-man squad for the tournament, including experienced defenders Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry and Ashley Cole.

The Londoners have also welcomed their Spanish and Brazilian contingency back into the ranks after the FIFA Confederations Cup, so David Luiz and Juan Mata are likely to be in action.

The winner of the fixture will face Milan in New York on Sunday, after they beat Valencia 2-1 to earn their second-round berth.