Xabi Alonso:
"The break has been probably too long. We've had time for everything, to analyse what we have done and what's coming. We are working with some players. We've used the time properly."
"The break has been probably too long. We've had time for everything, to analyse what we have done and what's coming. We are working with some players. We've used the time properly."
Xabi Alonso on Reece James, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro:
"Yes, they have been training. Some earlier than others. Marco Palestra as well. They have trained well and ready to go. For sure, we know they are key players and important."
"Yes, they have been training. Some earlier than others. Marco Palestra as well. They have trained well and ready to go. For sure, we know they are key players and important."
Xabi Alonso on Thomas Tuchel's Cole Palmer comments:
"He has trained the last week. He's felt better. We didn't want to rush. The most important for Cole is to be fully fit. We have a good feeling with him."
"He has trained the last week. He's felt better. We didn't want to rush. The most important for Cole is to be fully fit. We have a good feeling with him."
Xabi Alonso on Laurence Stewart's departure:
"Since we started, Laurence helped us a lot. I am thankful and wishing him the best. I don't think it will change much for our working structure."
"Since we started, Laurence helped us a lot. I am thankful and wishing him the best. I don't think it will change much for our working structure."
Xabi Alonso on Jamie Gittens:
"He is not going to be fit for tomorrow. That's the bad news. He picked up an ankle injury. He will be out for a few weeks."
"He is not going to be fit for tomorrow. That's the bad news. He picked up an ankle injury. He will be out for a few weeks."
Xabi Alonso on Josh Acheampong:
"He has played already [this season]. He's ready to play. I saw that he did well with the Under-21s for England. He's done well. For sure, he is taking a step forward. He's playing more mature and aggressive. He will play again."
"He has played already [this season]. He's ready to play. I saw that he did well with the Under-21s for England. He's done well. For sure, he is taking a step forward. He's playing more mature and aggressive. He will play again."
Xabi Alonso on Bournemouth:
"A tough test. So intense. High tempo game, very demanding. They have a very clear idea with what they do. We play at home, we need to have a good game. We want to win. We need a win."
"A tough test. So intense. High tempo game, very demanding. They have a very clear idea with what they do. We play at home, we need to have a good game. We want to win. We need a win."
Xabi Alonso:
"If you ask me which way I prefer, I prefer the other way [the old international break]. This one you disconnect too much. It's too long. For the dynamic of a club coach, I prefer the other way."
"If you ask me which way I prefer, I prefer the other way [the old international break]. This one you disconnect too much. It's too long. For the dynamic of a club coach, I prefer the other way."
Xabi Alonso:
"It's going to take time. How long? We will be checking. We need to keep improving and learning. It's part of the process. We need to really not make the same mistakes again."
"It's going to take time. How long? We will be checking. We need to keep improving and learning. It's part of the process. We need to really not make the same mistakes again."
Xabi Alonso on Cole Palmer:
"He's committed. But he needs to be fully fit to play. He will then enjoy his minutes. We need him in that moment - the club and the national team."
"He's committed. But he needs to be fully fit to play. He will then enjoy his minutes. We need him in that moment - the club and the national team."
Xabi Alonso on Moises Caicedo:
"Any player of his quality and importance, we have missed him. We are happy that he's back and that he feels better. We didn't want to take risks."
"Any player of his quality and importance, we have missed him. We are happy that he's back and that he feels better. We didn't want to take risks."
Xabi Alonso on Estevao's Premier League minutes:
"It's still early, a few games since we started. Este is feeling much better from the injury. We saw in Brazil he played more. We know how important Este can be. He will have his moments and more minutes."
"It's still early, a few games since we started. Este is feeling much better from the injury. We saw in Brazil he played more. We know how important Este can be. He will have his moments and more minutes."
Xabi Alonso delivered an almost perfect team news update this afternoon ahead of #CFC vs Bournemouth.
https://t.co/E9phe7gYAh
https://t.co/E9phe7gYAh
Levi Colwill:
"This is a new chapter in my life and I’m feeling good [after my injury]. I’m a different person, I’ve learned so much, but I feel like it’s for the better, and I’m ready to push on..."
[via #CFC / Programme] https://t.co/1GAZ57XE1V
"This is a new chapter in my life and I’m feeling good [after my injury]. I’m a different person, I’ve learned so much, but I feel like it’s for the better, and I’m ready to push on..."
[via #CFC / Programme] https://t.co/1GAZ57XE1V
#Chelsea have been studying the economic conditions of a potential January move for Jules Kounde, whose future at Barcelona is far from assured.
[via @MatteMoretto / @marca]
[via @MatteMoretto / @marca]
Xabi Alonso on Cole Palmer not joining England squad:
"There is always a risk. With Morgan [Rogers] there was a risk. Nothing happened. With Jamie [Gittens], there was a risk. We've lost him for a few weeks. With Cole, it was the right decision."
[via @BobbyVincentFL]
"There is always a risk. With Morgan [Rogers] there was a risk. Nothing happened. With Jamie [Gittens], there was a risk. We've lost him for a few weeks. With Cole, it was the right decision."
[via @BobbyVincentFL]