{"id":665,"date":"2026-08-08T05:40:06","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:40:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=665"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:40:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:40:06","slug":"xabi-alonso-has-just-made-significant-change-to-chelseas-pre-season-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=665","title":{"rendered":"Xabi Alonso has just made significant change to Chelsea’s pre-season training"},"content":{"rendered":"


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New manager Xabi Alonso now spent plenty of time with his Chelsea players, and has started to work on what system they are going to use throughout the 2026\/27 season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Blues have played three pre-season friendlies so far this summer, as well as two games behind-closed-doors.<\/p>\n

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Alonso<\/a> will have learnt a lot about the players currently at his disposal, including which players will be easily replaced by some of the new signings and World Cup stars when they join up with the squad.<\/p>\n

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Thoughts after another pre-season defeat under Xabi Alonso?\ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Photo by Darren Walsh\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Xabi Alonso working on tactical structure during Chelsea training<\/h2>\n

So far, Alonso has used a back four during the pre-season fixtures, even if new signings such as Marco Palestra<\/a>, Maxence Lacroix<\/a> and Pep Chavarria seem more suited to a back three.<\/p>\n

As per Nizaar Kinsella though, Alonso has only just started getting his ideas across to the squad regarding how they should be playing, ahead of the start of the Premier League in two weeks.<\/p>\n

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He told the \u2018London is Blue\u2019<\/a> podcast: \u201cI get the sense that he\u2019s still working on his system. He\u2019s only just started working on his system now. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I know that for a fact that the tactical sessions have only just begun in Hong Kong. He\u2019s not seen a load of players. Pep Chavarria is not here yet. Henderson is not here yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reece James, Morgan Rogers<\/a> and Enzo Fernandez are amongst the players who are yet to join up with the squad, and are amongst those who will walk straight back into the starting side.<\/p>\n

This is assuming the World Cup winner stays at the club, with the confusion over that situation leaving Alonso with a bit of a tough decision to make in that role.<\/p>\n

Xabi Alonso\u2019s midfield conundrum<\/h2>\n

It has become clear during the pre-season friendlies that Alonso does not have full faith in the midfield options available to him in Asia.<\/p>\n

This was shown by the fact he started 16-year-old Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli<\/a> alongside Moises Caicedo against Juventus, despite having Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo available to him.<\/p>\n

If Fernandez<\/a> does leave, he will need to be replaced, with the likes of Alex Scott and Adam Wharton on the list as possible targets.<\/p>\n

Alonso will not want this saga to extend to the final days of the transfer window, and will be hoping the club give him some clarity soon. <\/p>\n

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