28/08/2026
๐จ๐ต Malo Gusto:
"I couldnโt wait to come back to Chelsea and just focus on our new objectives." ๐
"As a Chelsea player, of course we want to compete for the title and come back to the Champions League next season."
๐ ๐ฟ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐-๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ Reporter: Geovany Quenda and Levi Colwill were left out against Luton. Any issues with either of them? ๐ฅ
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso : โNo, there were no issues. The plan is for them to train tomorrow in preparation for Sunday.
โWith Levi, we know that playing three games in a week after his injury is something we need to manage carefully. He needs to take the right steps. We donโt want to push him too much or put too much stress on him. We want him to feel comfortable.โ
๐ Reporter: Could Moisรฉs Caicedo be back for Brighton? ๐ช๐จ
๐ฃ๏ธ Alonso: โHe is training. Hopefully he trains tomorrow, and we are hopeful he can be involved. But we still need to check. No decision has been made.โ
๐ Reporter: Three games in seven days โ is that a concern for players like Reece James or Cole Palmer, given their previous issues? โณ
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โI hope not.โ
๐ Reporter: Do you already know who starts in goal on Sunday? ๐งค
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โYes.โ
๐ Reporter: Will Robert Sรกnchez get another opportunity? ๐
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โDonโt ask! I know, but I prefer to tell the players the line-up first.โ ๐
๐ Reporter: If Enzo Fernรกndez leaves before Tuesdayโs deadline, would Chelsea need to replace him? ๐
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โWeโve been talking about speculation. Iโm sorry, but Iโm not going to talk too early about things.
โWe need to see what happens. We want to always be ready.โ
๐ Reporter: Chelsea fans were singing your name in your first competitive home game as manager. How did that feel? ๐
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โIt was nice. We are happy to have that support, and I was happy to receive that welcome from the fans.
โI have felt since my first day here that they were happy we were starting this new time together. Now it is time to deliver. Now it is time to show it every weekend.
โWeโve had just two games. Itโs been a good start, but these are still early days. Sunday is a good game and a good test to see where we are.โ
๐ Reporter: Danny Welbeck scored against Luton and now faces his former club. Are you aware of his record? ๐ฏ
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โYes, I am aware, and Iโm happy that he is with us.โ
๐ Reporter: Beyond his experience, what does Welbeck bring to Chelsea? ๐ง
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โHe has many qualities. You can see how intelligent he is as a player. He links play well and is able to combine outside the box. Inside the box, he is very intelligent at getting into the right positions. We saw that tonight.
โOn a daily basis, he is also a great influence on the other players. He trains really hard and raises the standards in training. Thatโs something we think is important.โ
๐ Reporter: How impressed have you been with Fabian Hรผrzelerโs work at Brighton? โ๏ธ
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โI know him very well from Germany, from St. Pauli. He is developing the team with new players.
โThey are a very intense team with interesting ideas. Thatโs why Sunday is going to be a good clash and a good test.โ
๐ Reporter: Several players involved in pre-season are now leaving. How close are you to the smaller squad you wanted? ๐
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โWe are quite close to the plan we had. Weโll see where we finish and whether it is fully executed โ whether some things still need to be done or whether there are things we couldnโt do.
โOverall, I think the balance of what we have is going to be good. We need to see how things develop over the last few days, but so far the team is coming together.
โItโs a process that will take time, but we are in a good position. We have just a few more days to see.โ
๐ Reporter: Without European football, how big does your squad need to be? ๐ฅ
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โNot every player is at the same stage of their career. Some are established, while for others itโs their first year at a club like Chelsea or even in the Premier League.
โEveryone is at a different stage, and they need to understand that while remaining part of the cohesion of the team.
โI donโt have a number, but I have an idea, and we will be close to that.โ
๐ Reporter: Can you avoid players being regularly left out and becoming frustrated?
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โI hope so. We know the context of each player, but hopefully all of them will feel involved โ that weโre in the same boat and everyone feels weโre pulling in the same direction.โ
๐ Reporter: Josh Acheampong has started against Fulham and Luton. How much faith do you have in him? ๐
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โJosh is getting better and better. For me, when he plays with confidence and aggression, he has many of the attributes required of a modern defender.
โHe can play in different positions, heโs good on the ball and he understands the game. Iโve seen progression during the few weeks weโve been together.
โHe played very solid games against Fulham and tonight. Weโre happy that he is feeling this way, and we need to help him.
โThere will be different moments during the season because we want healthy competition in every position. Josh is doing well. Weโre happy for him, and heโs happy as well.โ
๐ Reporter: Could Josh start again against Brighton? ๐
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โHeโll be in the squad and available for selection, but weโll see on Sunday. He did well tonight.โ
๐ Reporter: You mentioned players needing to be in the right condition when explaining the Fernรกndez decision against Luton. What did you mean?
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โWe need the players who are in the best condition to play, and we need to take everything into consideration.
โThere are players who are in good moments and players who are not feeling that energy to play. For me, itโs very important that they feel ready to play and have had good preparation.
โWe talked and decided that, for tonight, it was better for him not to be part of the squad.โ
๐ Reporter: Was it a physical issue? ๐ค
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โIโm not allowed to talk about that.โ
๐ Reporter: How important is the balance between youth and experience, particularly with players like Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck? โ๏ธ
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โIt was a very important decision in our squad planning to bring in players who could have an impact not just on the pitch, but who were also ready to compete.
โWeโve seen that they donโt need much time to have a good impact, and weโre happy with that.
โWith Jordan, weโre still waiting for him to recover. Hopefully, he gets the green light to play soon. They bring many good qualities, both on and off the pitch.โ
๐ Reporter: Cole Palmer spoke about a โdifferent energyโ around Chelsea. How important is that mentality? ๐ฅ
๐ฃ๏ธAlonso: โThe mentality is fundamental, now and throughout the season.
โWe will certainly have bumps in the road, and we need to prepare for that โ how we react, how we stick together and how we maintain the same mentality.
โThatโs going to be very important. Every day there are good things, but there are also things we need to develop and improve.โ
๐จXabi Alonso talking about Chelsea's squad.
๐ฃ๏ธ Xabi Alonso
"We want to have a complete squad in all aspects. In quality, personality, young and experienced players - so the young players get help, that they are still players to develop."
๐ SkySports
Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson on my opinion were brought at Chelsea to help the young squad maintain compactness from the first day of the new season upto the last. Last season Chelsea started well until January this year when Enzo Maresca decided to leave Stamford Bridge. The players had no one to look up to and that's where the problem started until the end of the season. With Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson, Chelsea will have adequate leadership both on and off the pitch.
Real Chelsea Updates
There was something very impressive about Josh Acheampong's performance against Luton.
๐นHe went into six duels and won all six.๐นNo backing down.๐นNo unnecessary mistakes.๐นJust strong, confident defending.๐น4/4 ground duels.๐น2/2 aerial duels.
His 1v1 defending is becoming a real strength, while his confidence in possession continues to grow. Performances like this are exactly why Chelsea believe in him.
A serious talent.
๐จGusto: "I couldnโt wait to come back to Chelsea and just focus on our new objectives. As a Chelsea player, of course we want to compete for the title and come back to the Champions League next season."
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