This is all about the difference in pressure in those pre season games. They all know that nobody will tear them apart in the press when they lose a preparation game against a weaker team. It doesn't matter. The mental condition also doesn't matter because nothing is at risk unless they would lose a game like 0-7 against some second league team from I don't know where, but that usually doesn't happen. This will be about the start against Liverpool, that is when the pressure goes from 10% to 100% and everyone will see whether they are ready to make up for the embarrassing last season.
Building a strong team does require time and patience. Like Pep Guardiola, who undertook a makeover at Manchester City and demonstrated how consistency and tremendous achievements can be achieved. Chelsea young players require time to adjust and reach their peak performance. The side that advances the most will have a higher chance of winning, even though other teams like Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle are also changing. Preseason games may have shown promise competing against good EPL teams will be difficult. Chelsea performance might not be consistently excellent at the start of the new season due to the necessity for new players and adaptations. The secret to their success will be patience and tenacity.
But there is always room for surprises and Newcastle United is one of those teams that I thought would not be able to make it into the top 4 of the Premier League table and yet here they are. But now I would again think that there chances to repeat that or to play a great Champions League season are also relatively small. They are still so unknown to me. I hardly know any of their players, but the transfers of Sonali and Barnes are two transfers that demonstrate their ambitions for the next season.