Xabi Alonso has rotated the starting lineup ahead of Chelsea's clash against Leeds United in the Carabao Cup third round.
Chelsea's Spanish Manager Xabi Alonso arrives ahead of the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge in London on August 30,
Xabi Alonso arrives at Stamford Bridge.(Image: Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images)
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Xabi Alonso has made wholesale changes to the starting lineup for Chelsea's clash against Leeds United.
Speaking to reporters at Cobham training ground on Tuesday afternoon, Alonso outlined his plan to field the 'best possible team' where possible. When asked whether he could field another 'very strong side', having started Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers against Luton Town in the previous round, the Chelsea manager held his cards close to his chest.
Alonso said: "We always assess everything. Where are we coming from, where are we going. We try to take all the games, all the cups, very seriously, and we will, where we are, have the best possible team.
On the importance of the domestic cup competitions this season, given the Blues failed to qualify for European football, Alonso said: "We need everyone involved.
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"The more people you have involved in the team and the more people they feel that they are part of playing minutes, the better it is for the level of players, even for the ones that they play more.
"I think that it's important that we use all of them, that they have this feeling. And so far, every day, the dynamic is very, very good."
On the progress Chelsea have made in the early stages of his tenure, Alonso said: "We know that it's going to be a long process, but you need to be assessing how are things going. And so far, I think that we can be happy, but we need to be self-demanding as well, that we can do better.
Xabi Alonso sits with Estevao Willian
Xabi Alonso and Estevao Willian in Chelsea training.(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
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"But there are other parts that we can't afford to have so much time, that we need to improve. For sure, we want to have as many clean sheets as quick as possible.
"And that's going to be an issue for every game, knowing that the competition is hard. But we are taking steps, but there are still lots of steps to be taken."
Alonso added: "So we need to work, we need to improve the areas that we can do better. And other areas that we are doing well, trying to emphasise on those parts.
"But we are learning a lot from, I am learning myself, from the players, from the team, from the opponents, from the Premier League. We are being part of the development.
"If this is not even close to a final product of this Chelsea, I'm sure that, and I've said probably in the press conference, the Chelsea that we started in August, and the Chelsea of even January or even in May, it will be different, and it will be a much better one."
Chelsea starting lineup: Penders; Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill; Gusto, Watson, Barco, Chavarria; Estevao, Gittens; Welbeck.
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