Xabi Alonso has said he feels "good energy" as he starts his role as Chelsea head coach, according to Daily Sabah. The Spanish manager made the comment as the club returned from a preseason tour of Australia.
Alonso stated that the team is in a building phase, according to Chelsea's official website. "We are building a competitive team," he said, as reported by the club.
The tour included a match against a local side, and Chelsea's official site published a diary entry from midfielder Romeo Lavia. In it, Lavia described bringing "the Chelsea experience" to Australia and noted that he had impressed Alonso during the trip, the club reported.
BBC reported that the tour gave observers a chance to learn more about new signings Geovany Quenda and Emegha. The Times has suggested that Alonso could ride a "Spanish wave" to lead Chelsea to a Premier League title, though the manager himself has focused on the early stages of his project.
Alonso's appointment marks a new chapter for Chelsea after a period of managerial turnover. The club has invested heavily in young talent in recent transfer windows.
What to watch next: How Alonso integrates new signings into his system before the Premier League season begins.
