Bonding & building - what we learned about Alonso's Chelsea in pre-season

Chelsea's pre-season tour under new manager Xabi Alonso was marked by extensive travel and a focus on fitness and tactics. The team visited Sydney, Hong Kong, Jakarta, and Malaysia, covering 24,561 miles in just 56 hours. Alonso, who was on the winning side of the staff match, demonstrated his exceptional fitness by running at a pace of four minutes 30 seconds per kilometre.

The club's private Airbus A340, along with a switch to Sydney time and instructions to sleep after meals, helped manage the travel demands. Training sessions at Sky Park and Allianz Stadium provided insights into Alonso's hands-on approach, which included passing drills and testing players like Estevao Willian. The tour also saw a focus on younger players, with Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli standing out.

Key executives were present, and transfer dealings continued throughout the trip. The team's bond was strengthened through various activities like cinema visits, boat trips, and cultural experiences. Despite the demanding schedule, the 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers and 2-1 defeat by Tottenham suggested room for improvement as the tour progressed.