Xabi Alonso is planning to improve Chelsea's "culture", and his gaining the players' admiration on the training pitch would only help accomplish this.
Chelsea's pre-season tour of Australia and Asia has now come to an end. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea
More Videos
Xabi Alonso and his staff are understood to be the ones “setting the standards” during Chelsea’s pre-season tour through their work ethic on and off the pitch.
It is clear from the shift in Chelsea’s transfer strategy in this summer transfer window that the club want to improve the squad not just in terms of player quality but also mentally.
The acquisitions of veteran players such as Danny Welbeck from Brighton and Jordan Henderson from Brentford are expected to bring the much-needed experience to this very young Chelsea squad.
Maxence Lacroix, who served as a vice-captain at Crystal Palace, has also joined the club and will likely be part of Chelsea’s leadership group.
Alonso said something interesting in a pitchside interview ahead of Chelsea’s 3-3 draw with Johor Darul Ta’zim in Malaysia on Sunday about improving the team’s ethos.
“Culture, it takes longer,” Alonso told Stadium Astro when asked whether it would be harder to implement tactics or culture in the team.
“Because it’s about habits. You need to be consistent day by day, for sure.
“It takes time, but you see where we want to get, what we can achieve.
“The potential is there, and now we need to work, and I know the process is one we want to enjoy as well.”
Alonso, however, has not just pushed for the signings of experienced players.
According to The Athletic, the new Chelsea manager and his backroom staff have been exemplary with their work rate during the pre-season.
Immediately after a match or a training session, Alonso could reportedly be seen on the team bus already studying clips on his laptop to prepare for the next one.
Alonso earned players’ admiration through his footballing ability
It is certainly not easy to rally a squad with so many high-profile players like Chelsea without first gaining the team’s trust and approval.
Alonso’s illustrious career as a player has helped, and he can still showcase it on the training pitch.
The former Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich midfielder is said to have “wowed” the players with his ability on the ball when he joined in training.
Sources around the Chelsea squad are reported to have described how Alonso led training as if he were “directing traffic”.
A few players in this Chelsea squad, such as Wesley Fofana, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Reece James, have already played under Frank Lampard, another high-calibre star player-turned-manager, but most of them have not.
Back to London ahead of new season
Chelsea’s pre-season tour in Australia and Asia reached its conclusion on Sunday, with two wins, two losses, and a draw from five friendly matches.
The 3-0 win over AC Milan on Saturday was arguably the highlight of this tour. Chelsea looked very dominant in this game after Alonso implemented a back-three formation for the first time in pre-season.
Chelsea still have one friendly match to work with, against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, August 15.
More players, including club-record signing Morgan Rogers, are expected to join the squad for this friendly.
Chelsea will play their season-opening match against West London neighbours Fulham at Craven Cottage on August 24.