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The fans are mad for Chelsea

Chelsea fans were out in full force at the NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium in Yokohama with a large number in attendance to watch Frank Lampard and Jody Morris put the team through their paces.

Supporters were queuing around the stadium 90 minutes before the session was due to get underway and they were all keen to grab a good seat to get the best possible view of the team once the doors opened an hour ahead of training.

The fans are certainly mad for the Blues and that was evident as the club's record goalscorer made his way out onto the pitch with his coaching staff as they waved and shouted the new head coach's name.

Olivier Giroud also got a warm reception from those inside the small stadium as he was the first of 10 outfield players to come out for training, while the fans also made their appreciation known to each and every single player during the session.

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The fans were always heard when the ball hit the back of the net and the players stayed behind afterwards to thank them by signing autographs and posing for pictures.

Training in small groups

Instead of all the players coming out at once to train, the squad were split into two groups of 10 for the training session in Yokohama.

With the goalkeepers warming up behind the goal in preparation for the friendly against Kawasaki Frontale, Cesar Azpilicueta, N'Golo Kante and Christian Pulisic were just some of the players to step onto the pitch first.

Lampard has so far played two different sides in either half for the games against Bohemians and St Patrick's Athletic and he will very probably do the same once again for the two matches in Japan.

(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

The players out first did make up a strong starting XI and we may well see that exact team play together at some point against Kawasaki Frontale.

Given that the manager has a large squad at his disposal for the upcoming friendlies with 25 players out in Japan, it certainly made sense to split the team into smaller groups so he could assess his players before they all joined forces for a small-sided game to finish training.

Kante's position

Kante's role in the team last season under Maurizio Sarri was a major talking point.

Playing such a key part in both Leicester City and Chelsea's title successes in his deep role in midfield, the player was utilised further forward by the Italian last term to accommodate Jorginho.

Although the Frenchman did do well in a more advanced role, he certainly is better suited to playing in his favoured position as it does get the very best out of him.

Well, he was back in a deeper role in midfield when the team lined up in the first part of the session in preparation for Friday's game.

Danny Drinkwater, Mateo Kovacic and Kante started in a midfield three, with the latter sitting slightly deeper than his teammates.

Time will tell if Kante is reverted back to his favoured position next season with the trip to Manchester United on the opening weekend just over three weeks away.

It will certainly go down well with supporters if Lampard does make an alteration regarding his role starting at Old Trafford next month.

Hint over Pulisic's role

Lampard will also have to decide on where exactly Pulisic will play next season following his £57.6million move from Borussia Dortmund.

The United States international returned early from his break after playing in the Gold Cup and it's likely that he will wear a blue shirt for the very first time on Friday at the Nissan Stadium.

Pulisic is certainly versatile as he's comfortable at playing on either flank or as an attacking midfielder.

Eden Hazard's exit from Chelsea means the Blues have a vacancy on the left at present and it may turn out to be the 20-year-old who fills it.

Out on the pitch for the first bit of training as Lampard lined his team up in a starting XI, Pulisic was actually positioned wide on the left.

(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Kenedy, who is naturally left footed, was actually on the opposite flank, with Ross Barkley playing centrally in a three behind Olivier Giroud.

Pulisic has plenty of experience of playing from the left and that's where he could well find himself from August onwards.

Love for Mount

Mason Mount really made a big impression at Derby County last season as he spent the season away from Stamford Bridge on loan.

The midfielder played a huge role in the Rams' success under Lampard and it almost ended with the team winning promotion back to the top flight for the first time since 2008.

Mount is going to be a part of the Chelsea team next season and he committed his long-term future to the club earlier in the week by penning a new contract at Stamford Bridge.

The youngster was part of the second batch of players out on the pitch and he got a huge cheer from the supporters in the stand.

David Luiz was one of the first out during the second bit of the session and he, unsurprisingly, had fans shouting his name, but it will have maybe come as a shock to Mount himself to have fans cheering for him given he's yet to make a competitive appearance in the starting XI for the first team.