What we learned from Alonso's first training session

[Getty Images] Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso was seen doing a mixture of ball and fitness work in his first training session at Chelsea. As well as carrying out internal media duties, the 44-year-old toured the facilities. He had also visited last month to meet key staff like the medical department but has now formally settled into his new office at the training ground. Meanwhile, the players were instructed to arrive at around 9am for an extended reintroduction to training as pre-season preparations began ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. Exact details of the training session are scarce, but Alonso is known to be highly hands-on and to demand intense sessions from his players. We do know some of the players involved, notably new signings Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha and Dastan Satpaev. The latter was given permission by his club, FC Kairat, to begin training early ahead of his move officially going through when he turns 18 in August. Chelsea's squad was largely made up of players who were not selected for the World Cup, including Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Levi Colwill. There were also academy players in the session, including Reggie Walsh, Mahdi Nichol-Jazuli, Landon Emenalo, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Calvin Diakite. In addition, Rob Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Gabriel Slonina and Teddy Sharman-Lowe took part in goalkeeper training. Further outfield players included Aaron Anselmino, Wesley Fofana, Dario Essugo, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, Josh Acheampong, Estevao Willian and Romeo Lavia. Chelsea will train at Cobham until their overseas pre-season tour begins on 25 July. Their first match is against Western Sydney Wanderers on 28 July, before further fixtures in Australia and across Asia. The Blues begin their Premier League season away at Fulham on 24 August.