For Ben Chilwell, facing Manchester City – whether that be on these shores or the other side of the Atlantic – will always hold a special place in his heart.

The left-back was an integral part of the Chelsea team that claimed our second Champions League crown against the Sky Blues in 2021, a moment he described as his most memorable in football.

That unforgettable night will live long in the memory of all Blues fans and especially the players involved.

Man City would secure a maiden Champions League of their own two years later and across the three games between the sides during the 2023/24 campaign, there was only one goal separating the teams.

Now the clubs are set to face off once again on August 3, this time at the iconic Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, as part of Chelsea’s USA Tour 2024.

Chilwell said: ‘That City fixture will always be special for sure. It is perhaps my most memorable experience in football so it will always have a special place in my heart.

‘Whenever we play against Man City, I do remember the Champions League final in Porto so when we play against them in pre-season it will be no different.

‘We want to go there and beat them. I know it's pre-season but it definitely won't be a friendly game.

‘We are playing in front of 100,000 people, and a lot of our fans, so we want to put on a good performance and hopefully get the win as well.’

Ohio Stadium is the fourth largest on-campus facility in the USA and is one of the biggest stadiums in the world, with a capacity of 102,780.

Its distinctive horseshoe shape has resulted in the nickname The Shoe and helped make it one of the most recognisable venues across the vast nation.

Chilwell said: ‘It's incredible really, to play in a stadium that seats 100,000 people. That is bigger than any stadium over here so it will be a new experience for all of us and something we're really looking forward to.

‘The chance to play in these iconic stadiums is something you can’t take for granted. You just have to just try to soak it in and enjoy it while you're there.

‘Of course, you're there to do a job and to get the win. But to go into these different cities and different stadiums and different cultures, that maybe we would never normally do, is something that we also have to appreciate.’

Chiwell’s gratitude didn’t stop there.

This will be the fourth time Chilwell has travelled to the US for a pre-season tour but that doesn’t mean he takes it for granted.

Our vice-captain explained: ‘I remember last pre-season I met a few of the fans after the game and they said they had never been to a Chelsea game even though they had been Chelsea fans their whole life. That kind of hit home a little bit, how the fans in America don't have the same opportunity to come to watch us every week at Stamford Bridge [like some of our other fans do].

‘We are there for pre-season but it's important that we put on a show for the fans too and we mix in trying to build that relationship with them out there. Hopefully, we get a few wins for them as well.’

Chelsea will play five games across five states this summer as part of our US Tour.

Wrexham and the Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California, will get things underway for Enzo Maresca’s men on July 24, before a trip to the Notre Dame Stadium, Indiana, three days later, where Scottish champions Celtic lie in wait.

July 31 it will be the turn of Mexican champions Club America at the impressive Mercedes Benz Stadium in Georgia, home of NFL side Atlanta Falcons and the MLS’ Atlanta United.

The clash with Premier League winners Man City will be fourth up before Chelsea men’s team’s 2024 USA Tour concludes on August 6 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, against the reigning Champions League holders Real Madrid.

So Blues fans across the nation are in for a summer of incredible entertainment and the Chelsea players can’t wait to head Stateside.

Chilwell said: ‘We were actually talking about it recently saying as a group how much we love going out to America and seeing the fans out there, the huge stadiums and the nice weather; it’s great.

‘The fans just bring a different energy out there - it's a bit more of a show and we just really enjoy going out there and playing against good opposition, in front of a lot of fans that probably don't get the opportunities to come to our games here.’

Chelsea’s USA Tour 2024