'A big honour' - Alonso reports for first day at Cobham

[Getty Images] Thursday marked Xabi Alonso's first day at Chelsea's Cobham training ground as the new Blues manager. Alonso signed in and met members of the squad not currently on World Cup duty or on holiday following an exit from the tournament. Players reporting for duty included Robert Sanchez, Levi Colwill, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, who brought in his new branded range of ice cubes. Speaking to club media on his first day, Alonso said: "It feels great. "It's a big honour to be part of this club - it's a great club, one of the best in the world over the last few decades. It's a big privilege to be part of it. "We have challenges, nice challenges, ahead of us - but, this is the beauty of the moment." [Getty Images] The deal to bring Alonso to Stamford Bridge was completed early in the summer, ending uncertainty and speculation over Chelsea's managerial position, but Thursday marked the first day he could begin work with some of his squad. "The timings are always important and it came at the right time for all the parts, and believing that the potential and the opportunity to come to this club was the right one," the Spaniard added. "The potential of the team and the squad made me very excited - to find a squad to work with, to create a football idea and to bring excitement to the stadium and to connect to the fans. "I've been there at Stamford Bridge, mostly on the other side, but I know the energy that the stadium has and we need to create that energy and bond with all the parts."