Chelsea head coach Javi Alonso reflected on the final preseason match against Real Sociedad, a 3-1 victory, sharing his impressions of the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, assessing the squad’s current form, and outlining the work plan ahead of the Premier League opener.
“It was a very emotional experience—feeling at home for the first time. The reception from the fans was fantastic, not only for the team but also for the new coaching staff and myself personally, so I’m thrilled. It’s great to have the whole squad together. Some players, after just three days of training, said they were ready to play 60 minutes. This was our final test, and now we have a full week to prepare for Fulham. The atmosphere at the stadium was excellent,” the Spanish manager told the club’s media team.
At the same time, Alonso emphasized that he still has time to finalize his starting lineup for the Premier League opener.
“This was a very good final preparation match. For some players, it was both their first and last preseason game. Plus, the opponent was a club from my hometown, so it was nice to reconnect with familiar faces. Now we have time to prepare thoroughly for the start of the season. After today’s game, we have a lot to evaluate over the coming week. The main positive is that most players are healthy and ready to train. Some are in better physical condition than others after preseason, but everyone will be ready by the season’s start. We train on Monday. Our plan is to hold five full training sessions before the Fulham game. That will be our primary focus,” the Chelsea coach added.
