Photo by Ayush Kumar/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Photo by Ayush Kumar/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Chelsea’s preparations for the new season take a step up with the challenge of facing Tottenham in Sydney, and Xabi Alonso has named his starting side for the London rivalry down under.
Alonso was keen to hand opportunities to the younger members of his squad in their first friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers to get a taste for whether they can help him going into the new campaign.
The likes of Reggie Watson and Landon Emenalo took their chance to impress, although big-name stars like Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer were required off the bench to get the 6-4 win.
Confirmed Chelsea XI vs Tottenham
Chelsea supporters will place far more importance on this game against Spurs though, and Alonso’s team is in for the upcoming clash.
The starting XI on paper is far stronger than it was on Wednesday, with Estevao Willian and new signing Marco Palestra featuring from the off.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Chelsea FC: Sydney Super Cup
Photo by Ayush Kumar/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
It looks as if the boss has stuck to the 4-3-3 formation he has used throughout pre-season, with him still yet to utilise the three-at-the-back system he found so much success with at Bayer Leverkusen.
There will be a desire for a number of these players to make an impression as the club continue to strengthen in the transfer market before the new domestic campaign.
New addition Maxence Lacroix has not yet joined up with the pre-season tour, while the signings of Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson are expected to be confirmed in the coming days.