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Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on what he saw in new signing Marco Palestra:

"He has many great qualities. He's a player that gives you versatility in his positioning, he can play in a back four, a back five, sometimes he can play on the left.

"Physically he is really strong, we need to keep working with him on his development and adaptation to the Premier League. But I'm pretty sure and positive that it won't take a lot of time.

"And he has the very good mentality in terms of competitiveness and this hunger to improve so I'm happy that he's here. He's been training already.

"We are really looking forward to getting the best from him."

Chelsea

Here is Chelsea's pre-season schedule - with kick-off times in BST.

• 28 July v Western Sydney Wanderers (Sydney) - 10:45
• 1 August v Tottenham (Sydney) - 10:45
• 5 August v Juventus (Hong Kong) - 12.30
• 8 August v AC Milan (Jakarta) - 13:00
• 9 August v Johor Darul Ta'zim (Johor) - 13:00

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on whether he has any formation plans in mind already, such as a back four or five:

"For sure I have things in mind. This is my job.

"For sure we want to be active, we want to be brave, we want to play good football, we want to compete well, but above that we need good mentality.

"I think that's fundamental to understand what to do and what it takes in each moment. We want to show that we are ready to go.

"Once we are closer to the start of the season, we will reassure that with all the players."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on his first impression of Cole Palmer:

"We have had a few training sessions already. From the first day, you can see he's a special talent, a special player. It's not easy to have one of those. And you can notice his quality, how he's able to play, the right decision in the right spot.

"So I'm happy that he has come in a good mood, a good mindset to have a great season, and we are really looking forward to getting the best from him.

"If we are able to build a strong team with the proper stability to find the key players, for sure, Cole is going to be one of those key players in the attacking part."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on whether the World Cup has got in the way of his plans for the start of pre-season:

"It was already in the plan, so it's no big surprise at this stage we still have some players [missing].

"I am happy for them because they are living an unforgettable experience. Hopefully, at the end, we will have some World Champions when they come back to Cobham, we will celebrate that.

"We will have to adapt the preparations with some players, that is going to happen."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, asked whether he was always wanting to come back and manage in the Premier League:

"Of course the Premier League is the most competitive league in the world right now, it is a challenge to come here, but really excited about accepting it, improving and learning together, and the history of Chelsea is there. Because of their success, because of so many great players, so many great managers. I see some pictures of them, some of these guys. I feel honoured, privileged and ready for the work."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on what his role as 'manager' means, as opposed to head coach:

"It means we are working together to take the right decisions, on the squad planning, on a daily basis, in training. I am on that. But how we want to prepare the squad for, which players and which positions are needed is the work that we are doing together whether the sporting directors. And we are aligned. We have set our priorities for what we want to do. And this is the world that we are in."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on his love for the city he will now call home:

"I have always loved London, I've come many times and now I will have the chance to live the full experience of livng here, myself, my wife, my daughters."

"I am not discovering anything by saying it's one of the greatest cities in the world."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on whether he has spoken to Enzo Fernandez:

"Yes we have spoken. But as you can imagine what we have spoken remains private. But yes, we have spoken."

On whether he wants to keep him at Chelsea:

"Yes."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on whether Spain can repeat what he did by winning the Euros and World Cup:

"Watching Spain, it brings me a lot of memories from the World Cup we won, because of the team, because of the energy they transmit and because of the control they have on the games.

"We have many reasons to be optimistic and whatever happens against France, it will be a fantastic game to watch.

"They have a great team, I can see them winning this World Cup.

"So many English journalists here are hoping that will not happen, but they play really good and have a strong team."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on how the Blues' failure to qualify for Europe has affected the squad:

"Small details, for sure, but the main focus of how we want to start the competition in August - it doesn't change much.

"The plan is we are working aligned with the sporting directors. The team is good and will we want to reinforce? The decisions that are needed are clear. We are working in an aligned way. And this is the right way."

I've just had a look at the poll running at the top of the page. 55% of our audience believe that Chelsea will finish in the top five next season.

While, 19% think there is a chance of Europa or Conference League football.

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on what characteristics players need to thrive under him:

"We need to have hunger. We need to have the passion for the game. We need to want to improve. The Premier League is such a competitive competition and, for that, we need to prepare ourselves.

"We need to be really determined in details, really strong on our basics - how we want to play. We will have time for that. But those are the most important pillars in our game."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on whether he is confident to build a team capable of competing in the Premier League, if not win it:

"Time will tell. I'm sure we have ambition to win a lot of games, to be competitive," said Alonso.

"I've said before we need to take important decisions, to build strong principles, strong mentaltity and culture in the club.

"Time will tell, I'm not going to say what will happen in May as it's too early to say that.

"I am confident, I am optimistic we can have a great season, and for that, it's time to prepare, it's time to work, to be intelligent in many things and follow that with belief and belief from fans here at Stamford Bridge, it will be very important."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on whether he sees hunger in players' eyes:

"I'm sure and I have felt already that they want to have a good season. After last year, we are starting from zero... some new faces from the staff, from the manager.

"But they are really keen on what we are doing. You see that the energy is good. The excitement is there.

"We need to prepare well, we have time for that. It is really important that we build the right mentality to compete, we build the right basics, essentials on a daily basis to be ready for the weekends."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on whether the Blues need to be playing European football next season:

"For sure. That's a goal but to reach that goal you need to do many right things. To be part of that process, how we want to play, how we want to see ourselves, how we want to approach a game wherever we go - that's my job, that's what I'm really looking forward to. To have the whole squad, at the moment, we have some bits but early days and happy early days so far. But for sure we want to be there.

"Time will tell but we are ambitious and to be in Chelsea you need to share that energy, that ambition and as well that hunger to have success."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on the future of Alejandro Garnacho:

"We have spoken to the sports director and there's an interest from him, from another club, so let's see how it develops," said Alonso

"I hope it finishes in the best possible way for all parties."

Alonso then followed up with replying to a question about Nicolas Jackson's future as well:

"He's joining in the tour we are starting in Asia," he added.

"I look forward to starting with Niko at that time."