Football London Icon
Chelsea
Chelsea News
Chelsea pre-season tourXabi Alonso
LIVEUpdated 3 mins ago
Live and extensive coverage from the Accor Stadium in Sydney as Chelsea's pre-season officially gets underway against local side Western Sydney Wanderers
Xabi Alonso during a Chelsea training session(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Hello and welcome to football.london for live updates from Chelsea's pre-season opener today against Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Blues have been in Sydney, Australia, since Saturday as preparations for the new season continue under Xabi Alonso. Today (10:45am UK kick-off time/7:45pm local) sees the west Londoners take on the team that finished rock-bottom of the A-League last season.
Alonso is expected to rotate heavily as the game goes on at the Accor Stadium. Usually in these types of matches, the team that walks out for the second half is a completely different line-up than the one the manager starts with. Let's see if Alonso does something similar today.
There are a number of academy players desperate to make a strong first impression on the Spaniard ahead of his debut season at Stamford Bridge. Likewise, there are a host of first-team stars who may be feeling they have a point to prove today - and in the rest of the summer.
Bobby Vincent is on the ground in Australia and has been throughout the week. Our Chelsea reporter will bring you live updates throughout the match. Grab a coffee and stay tuned!
View Post
View Post
View Post
View Post
View Post
View Post
View Post
View Post
View Post
Today11:50 BST
Close!
Watson, a free-kick specialist, hits the set-piece narrowly off target from just outside of the box.
Today11:47 BST
Back underway - two changes
Omari Kellyman and Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli coming on for Chelsea - Dario Essugo and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen off
Today11:41 BST
Half-time Chelsea player ratings
Sharman-Lowe - 6
Subuloye - 6
Tosin - 5
Acheampong - 4
Emenalo - 7
Essugo - 8
Watson - 6
Kavuma-McQueen - 7
Walsh - 7
Satpayev - 8
Delap - 5
Today11:31 BST
HALF-TIME
Half-time in Sydney and it's all square. Dastan Satpayev and Dario Essugo scoring beautiful goals for #CFC. Xabi Alonso could send out a completely different XI for the second period.
Dastan Satpayev celebrates
Dastan Satpayev celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Western Sydney Wanderers(Image: Saeed Khan/AFP)
Today11:28 BST
Sitter missed
Tosin with a sitter at the far post from a corner but heads wide.
Today11:24 BST
Delap forces a save
Some more promising play from Essugo to set Delap up and the striker forces a save from Holmes. Corner for Chelsea.
Today11:23 BST
GOAL! Chelsea 2-2 Western Sydney Wanderers
Brilliant one-two from Walsh and Essugo, the latter beautifully sliding the ball into the far corner. Chelsea are level in Sydney.
Today11:19 BST
GOAL! Chelsea 1-2 Western Sydney Wanderers (Hammond)
The Australians are ahead in Sydney. Acheampong got completely done by Hammond, who nutmegged the Chelsea defender, before firing it into the bottom corner. 2-1 to Wanderers.
Today11:12 BST
WATCH: First goal of the Alonso era
Alonso-ball is underway!
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Today10:59 BST
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Western Sydney Wanderers (Pantazopoulos)
We're level. A header from a corner. Chelsea defence all over the place. Level in Sydney.
Today10:58 BST
Save!
Sharman-Lowe with a great save to deny a low strike from Gillion. Corner.
Today10:52 BST
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Western Sydney Wanderers (Satpayev)
It all came from a goal kick - great build-up play from Chelsea. Kavuma-McQueen slides an inch-perfect pass and Satpayev thunders the ball into the top corner. Fantastic goal.
Today10:50 BST
Chance for Wanderers
Hammond with a chance for the Australians after some sloppy build-up play from Chelsea. The Wanderers attacker shoots it well wide, though. Decent chance.
Today10:47 BST
Chelsea shape
A back four, as expected, with Subuloye at right-back and Emenalo on the left. Kavuma-McQueen is on the right wing and Satpayev on the left. Walsh is in the No.10 role with Essugo and Watson the holding midfielders.
Today10:45 BST
KICK-OFF
Underway in Sydney.
Today10:43 BST
Here come the players
The players are out on the pitch in Sydney. Kick-off at the Accor Stadium is imminent.
Today10:38 BST
'It won’t take much for Chelsea fans to boo Xabi Alonso'
Former Chelsea defender William Gallas believes Xabi Alonso must get off to a good start at the Blues - or face being booed by supporters.
Speaking to talkSPORT Bet, Gallas said:
Sometimes you need someone who knows the history of the club, especially a former player. For example, Xabi Alonso knows the history of Liverpool. But he doesn't know Chelsea's story. I'm sure he will learn, but it's going to be interesting to see how the fans welcome him. Will they clap or boo him? Don't forget he played for Liverpool, so he still has that connection. If he is the manager, we will see.It won't take much for people to boo him if the results aren't good. People will say he's a Liverpool guy and question why he was brought in. But if he wins games, everyone will forget he played for Liverpool. Time will tell.
Today10:29 BST
'Champions League is the objective'
Jody Morris believes Chelsea should be looking to qualify for the Champions League this season at least.
Speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest football odds, Morris said: "As he is the new manager, I imagine there will be a few new additions and adjustments, but the minimum objective for Xabi Alonso is the Champions League. We need to start closing the gap toward the top, and there's no reason we can't do it quickly. We don't want increments like finishing eighth after being tenth.
"Not at Chelsea, not with the money we've shelled out and the talent in the squad. Everyone is disappointed because the level of quality we have and the amount spent should not result in the position we were in, it was a disgrace. The performance levels were far below what was expected. Minimum Champions League. I also want to see a change in mentality, I felt we were a bit of a petulant team with too many red cards. As soon as we made a mistake or conceded, we almost looked to fall apart. Under both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, the drop-off in games was sometimes astounding.
"You wouldn't recognise the team from the first half to the second. Sometimes we were poor for the first half and then looked like world-beaters in the second. I would like to get some consistency and for the group to look more mature in their performances. I am excited because I am a Xabi Alonso fan. I loved him as a player, he was outstanding and almost like a coach on the pitch. I am intrigued to see how we play and what the team looks like with hopefully a couple of new additions."
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Jody Morris, Assistant Manager of Chelsea applauds fans after his sides defeat in the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Former Chelsea assistant Jody Morris(Image: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Today10:26 BST
Team news hint
It looks as if it could be a back four from the start for Xabi Alonso's Chelsea side...
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Today10:22 BST
Chelsea pre-season miles
Following your Premier League club throughout pre-season will come with more air miles than ever for most clubs in 2026. Of the 20 clubs in the division, all but two will be travelling a total distance of over 1,000 miles as they prepare for the start of the 2026/27 campaign. All 20, meanwhile, will be playing in more than one country.
Chelsea's pre-season tour will see them travel to Australia and Asia, with the team travelling a total of 22,952 miles. Only Tottenham (23,281 miles) will travel more throughout pre-season, according to research from eSIMatic.
Alongside Spurs and Chelsea, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Leeds are the other three clubs travelling over 10,000 miles during their pre-season tours.
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso barking instructions(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Today10:20 BST
'Chelsea can't repeat transfer mistakes'
Alan Shearer believes Chelsea have learned from their past mistakes with Xabi Alonso facing a big few weeks ahead on the transfer front.
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer said:
Chelsea can’t repeat their past transfer policy mistakes, and I guess Alonso's gone in there knowing that. That's why he's got the title of manager rather than coach, and he's got more control over who goes out, and more importantly, who comes in so I'd be amazed if their transfer policy didn't change. It has to change, because look where they've finished, and look at what's happened to them.I know they won the Club World Cup, but what's happened to them since is a reflection on how their policy doesn't work and won't ever work. Alonso is a shrewd guy, he knows that and he'll have far more control as the manager than any of the coaches have had for a while at Chelsea. Chelsea need maybe three or four top-class first-team players ready to go in and play if they're going to challenge next season.
Today10:12 BST
A couple of absences tonight...
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Today10:08 BST
Youngsters eager to take their chance
Xabi Alonso is expected to hand minutes to a host of Chelsea academy stars today. Among those included in the travelling group are:
- Reggie Watson
- Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli
- Ted Curd
- Tayo Subuloye
- Calvin Diakite
- Reggie Walsh
- Landon Emenalo
- Ryan Kavuma-McQueen
Enzo Maresca instructs Reggie Walsh
Enzo Maresca instructs Reggie Walsh before the Chelsea midfielder came on in the win over Ajax(Image: Crystal Pix/MB Media)
Today09:56 BST
Shock double deal
Yesterday was full of surprises on the Chelsea transfer front. Firstly, news of interest in Brighton striker Danny Welbeck emerged online.
The Blues are now at the advanced stages in negotiations with the Seagulls for the 35-year-old forward, who has agreed personal terms over a move to Stamford Bridge.
Then, a few hours later, news of interest in Jordan Henderson broke. Chelsea are in talks with Brentford over signing the 36-year-old England international.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Today09:53 BST
More team news
Here is how Western Sydney Wanderers are setting up...
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Today09:53 BST
Match odds
Match result
Western Sydney Wanderers - 9/1
Draw - 6/1
Chelsea - 1/6
Odds courtesy of BetGoodwin
Today09:36 BST
Here are the boys
The Chelsea squad have arrived at the Accor Stadium for tonight's pre-season friendly. Some of them are inspecting the pitch...
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Today09:29 BST
Chelsea XI vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Chelsea XI: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Tosin, Subuloye, Emenalo, Walsh, Watson, Essugo, Delap, Satpaev, Kavuma-McQueen
Chelsea subs: Sanchez, Palestra, Colwill, Palmer, Gittens, Joao Pedro, Fofana, Anselmino, Nicoll-Jazuli, Kellyman, Curd, Estevao, Diakite, Lavia
Chelsea's XI vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Chelsea XI vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Today09:14 BST
Debut for new signings
Marco Palestra is set to make his Chelsea debut today in some capacity. The versatile Italian defender was signed for £47million at the start of the month from Atalanta and is expected to take some part in Sydney.
Elsewhere, Dastan Satpayev has also been training with Xabi Alonso and the group in recent weeks following his pre-agreed move from Kairat Almaty.
Morgan Rogers is not in the squad as he is on holiday following his World Cup exploits with England. Geovany Quenda is set to join up with the Blues squad in Asia next week after recovering from a minor muscular injury, but Emmanuel Emegha will miss the tour due to a hamstring problem.
Marco Palestra
Marco Palestra involved in Chelsea training(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Welcome to Sydney
Hello, good morning, good afternoon, good evening - wherever you are in the world, we hope you are well.
Welcome to Sydney, Australia, for the beginning of Chelsea's pre-season tour. It's all very exciting, isn't it?
There is no doubting that Xabi Alonso has brought a new lease of life around the place - whether you are a player, staff member of supporter.
Today, we get to see Alonso's team in action for the very first time. Kick-off at the Accor Stadium is at 7:45pm local time and 10:45am UK time. Live updates will be right here throughout the match, so stay tuned!
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso during a Chelsea press conference(Image: David Gray/AFP)