Xabi Alonso has settled into his role at Chelsea impressively, leveraging a month of experience to establish a strong presence within the squad. The Spaniard's professionalism and calm demeanour have not gone unnoticed.
Preseason results have been mixed for the Blues. They thrashed AC Milan 3-0 and outscored Western Sydney Wanderers in a thrilling 6-4 encounter. However, they faced defeats against Tottenham and Juventus, and also drew 3-3 with Johor Darul Ta'zim.
Despite these ups and downs, Alonso is busy shaping a new team ethos. He has introduced an intense style of football that emphasises total control of the ball, aiming to make a serious push for Premier League supremacy.
The Athletic has uncovered intriguing details about the training methods of the Spanish coach. Chelsea players have been left astounded by Alonso's own skills with the ball during drills.
Club sources indicate that Alonso orchestrates training sessions with the precision of a traffic controller, shaping the squad with authority.
This approach starkly contrasts with that of Liam Rossenyor, whose methods had some players referring to him as a schoolteacher, with complaints about excessive training loads.
