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

The pre-season campaign for Chelsea was led by new manager Xabi Alonso, but the extensive travel had been planned prior to his appointment. The Blues traveled further than any other Premier League club, visiting Sydney, Hong Kong, Jakarta, and Malaysia. Alonso set the tone for the trip by adapting quickly to the long flights, running to reduce jetlag at a pace of four minutes and 30 seconds per kilometre.

This dedication to fitness and standards was evident throughout the tour. The manager was also involved in a staff match before the squad departed for Australia. Despite the demands of travel and fatigue, Chelsea focused on tactical elements during the trip, using a private Airbus A340 and adjusting players' schedules to Sydney time.

Alonso demonstrated his exceptional passing ability and ability to test players like Estevao Willian, showcasing the qualities that made him one of the game's best midfielders. The tour also allowed younger players like Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli to gain experience, with opportunities to visit the cinema, go on boat trips, and explore local culture.

While the early results of the trip were mixed, with a 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers and a 2-1 defeat by Tottenham, insiders suggested that it was still early days for the culture Alonso was building.