Chelsea's head coach Xabi Alonso has praised Hull City's impressive start in the Premier League and emphasised that his team will not underestimate their opponent.
The Blues are set to host Hull City at Stamford Bridge this Saturday, coming off a narrow 2-1 defeat to Arsenal, while the Tigers have been surprisingly effective since their return to the top flight.
Alonso: 'They deserve to be where they are'
Alonso recognised that Hull City have already demonstrated their competitiveness this season.
'Why not? They deserve to be where they are. They have played against Manchester United, Coventry, and Aston Villa, and they performed very well in those matches.'
The Chelsea boss also highlighted the clear tactical framework established by manager John Eustace:
'They have a clear understanding of what they want and how they want to compete. They have the right mentality and are ready to fight hard.'
Alonso reiterated that Chelsea will approach the upcoming fixture with the same seriousness as they did against the reigning champions.
'We're going into tomorrow’s game with the same respect that we approached the match against Arsenal. It’ll be tough to beat them. They have belief in themselves, and the coach is doing an excellent job. It’s going to be difficult.'
Hull City as yet to concede in the league
One pressing concern for Chelsea lies in the resilience of Hull City's defence. Remarkably, they are the only team across the top four divisions of English football that have yet to concede a single goal this season.
This feat is especially impressive given that their schedule has already included matches against Manchester United, Coventry, and Aston Villa.
For Alonso, this serves as extra confirmation that the upcoming match won’t be a walk in the park.
Alonso praises Pedro Neto
During the press conference, the Chelsea coach also commented on Pedro Neto’s new contract, which the Portuguese winger signed, extending his stay at the club until 2032.
Alonso highlighted Neto’s versatility and his ability to contribute significantly across the pitch.
'To me, he’s a winger. You can call him a winger or a wing-back because he has many qualities. He can play high up the pitch and defend from the front.'
The manager further showcased Neto’s individual skills:
'He’s great one-on-one, scores goals, and links up brilliantly with players around him.'
Alonso also expressed his desire to have more players like Neto in his squad:
'With him, you know he’s going to fight. You want to see that kind of player in your team. I’m very happy with Pedro and the work he’s doing.'
