🗣️ Chelsea manager, Xabi Alonso:

🤝 𝐎𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛:

“You need the right balance of personalities, of maturity stages, (players in their) early twenties, early thirties and in between, players in different stages of their careers.

“There is not a formula for that, but there is a feeling for it.

“After, (it is about) the qualities and the way they interact. If they have good qualities and good interaction between them, you create good connections and good bonds between them, and that helps the team spirit. This is as important as tactics. First, it is the team spirit. After that is playing good football, winning games. Then you continue and continue.

“What taught me that? Playing football. Sometimes you had the feeling of, ‘Oh, I love playing with this team’. You could feel it. But for that, you need commitment and responsibility, and for me, it has been very natural. How long does it take? It can be a week, it can be 10 years.”

📝 𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐛:

“It was about the project because I had a view of Chelsea from the outside. I could see the positives and (had) my concerns. So I addressed them. The club, the sporting directors… it has been a process for them, some good things and other things they want to correct.

“The most important point is that we made the same analysis. If we had different views, it probably would not have been the right starting point. So far, we are taking the right ones.”

🤔 𝐎𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐝:

“It had to be a lot from here (points at his heart and his head) and also from here (points to his gut). I saw it was good timing from the club, good timing for myself, a good opportunity.

“It is a team that has played really well recently and the situation was not as bad as it looked at the end of last season. There is a big potential to improve and let’s see how long (it takes).”

(Various; via Simon Johnson - The Athletic)

#CFC #ChelseaFC #XabiAlonso

 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋: Valentin Barco has joined Chelsea from RC Strasbourg, signing a contract until 2033. 🤝

He will join up with manager Xabi Alonso and his new team-mates later in pre-season.

Barco, 21, began his career with Boca Juniors in Argentina. He made his professional debut at 16 years old, after rising through the academy ranks, and won numerous titles before moving to England in 2024 to join Brighton & Hove Albion.

During his time on the Sussex coast, he enjoyed loan spells at Sevilla and RC Strasbourg, joining the latter on a permanent basis after a 2024/25 campaign in which he enjoyed a breakthrough spell and helped Strasbourg secure European football.

Barco contributed to 12 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions last term, and his form at club level saw him named in Argentina’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He currently has five international appearances to his name.

[Chelsea FC]

#CFC #ChelseaFC #RCSA #Transfers

Vince: It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Nicoll-Jazuli is kept in the first team squad this coming season.

Out of all the academy players, he's the most comfortable with the demands of Alonso's football. It looks a natural fit for his game.

Thoughts 🤔💭

MUDRYK & WELBECK 🤩🤩🤩

𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Como have reached a verbal agreement to sign Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea worth €30 million (£25.7m) fixed, plus €6 million (£5.1m) in add-ons and a sell-on clause.

[fabrizioromano]

𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃:

Trevoh Chalobah is expected in Italy between Wednesday evening and Thursday to finalise his proposed move to Como from Chelsea.

[gianlucadimarzio]

#CFC #ChelseaFC #Como

𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋: Jordan Henderson has signed for Chelsea as a free agent on a contract until June 2028. 🤝

Mykhailo Mudryk is drawing interest from several clubs now he's eligible to play football again.

Mudryk will finish Chelsea's pre-season tour in Asia and then assess next steps.

Player hoping for clarity by mid-August on whether he's staying with the first team, being loaned or even sold.

Coventry City are one of the clubs to have shown an interest, but not the only suitor.

Chelsea want to assess Mudryk's form/fitness first and then will work with the player to find the best solution for all parties.🇺🇦

🔗 Ben Jacobs

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