🗣️ Xabi Alonso’s first words as Chelsea FC manager:

“You can’t hold back anything, everything is for the team. Hard work is a must. We need to create that culture, it starts here in a daily process at Cobham.“

✨ 𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝:

“The potential of the team and squad made me really excited, to find a squad to work with, create a football idea, bring excitement to the stadium and connect with the fans.

“It feels great, but it’s a big honour. To be part of this great club that is one of the best in the world with great success in the last decades, and it’s a big privilege to be a part, and now it’s looking forward to the challenge.”

💪 𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞:

“I know the energy that this stadium has and we need to create that energy and this bond with all the parts.”

🎯 𝐎𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:

“The message is we want to share that belief that good things will come if we are together and we create this strength, it has to come from us to bring the energy, but together, we can achieve great things in the coming years.”

‼️ Chelsea will train at Cobham until their overseas pre-season tour begins on 25 July. Their first match is against Western Sydney Wanderers on 28 July, before further fixtures in Australia and across Asia.

~ NizaarKinsella

Niamh Charles has completed a permanent transfer to @Manchester_City, bringing a trophy-laden six-year spell at Chelsea to an end.

Few players have done more for Chelsea over the years. Thank you for all you have given to this club, Niamh. 💙