Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has answered on his side’s transfer plans after winning their first match of pre-season.
The Blues kicked off their pre-season tour in Australia with a 6-4 victory over Sydney Warriors. However, much attention remains on the transfer market, where the club continues to be active.
Veteran Englishmen Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson have both been linked with moves to Stamford Bridge in the past 24 hours. Alonso answered on the speculation.
“I’m sure that from today until the last day of the transfer window there will be a lot of rumours,” said the Spanish coach. “So to be commenting on all of them, it’s going to be a hard task.
“But for sure we need proper balance in terms of qualities, in terms of positions, in terms of balance. We want to have a complete squad and we want to make a good team.
“For that we have an idea, we have a plan and let’s see how we set it up until the start of the Premier League.”
21 Chelsea players saw action in their pre-season opener, with just one senior player remaining on the bench as an unused substitute. That player was Romeo Lavia, whose injury struggles have plagued his time at Stamford Bridge.
“He felt something in the hamstring,” revealed Alonso. “Not a big thing, so hopefully we are expecting him to be fit for Saturday.
“But there was no point of taking risks today. So that is why Reggie Watson has played these 90 minutes and he has done well.”