Xabi Alonso believes Chelsea have completed their pre-season preparations on a positive note after watching his side beat Real Sociedad 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Morgan Rogers opened his Chelsea account early on before Joao Pedro struck twice after the break to give the Blues a convincing victory in Alonso’s first game at Stamford Bridge.
The match also allowed several players to get their first minutes of pre-season, with Rogers, Maxence Lacroix and Reece James among those returning after their involvement at the World Cup.
Alonso was encouraged by what he saw but acknowledged there is still work to do before Chelsea begin their competitive campaign.
“It was a very good final preparation game,” he said.
“For some players it was their first game and for others it was their last one before the season. There were some good things and also things we can improve, which is normal at this stage.
“It was great to have everyone together. Some players had only been back for three days and still managed to play 60 minutes.
“Now we have a full week to prepare for Fulham, but the feeling in the stadium was very good.”
Head coach welcomed to West London
The biggest moment of the afternoon for Alonso came before kick-off, when he received a huge reception from the Stamford Bridge crowd as he was introduced for his first home game as Chelsea manager.
The former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss admitted the welcome made the occasion particularly special and believes building a strong relationship with supporters will be an important part of his time in West London.
“It was emotional to experience my first time here at our new home,” Alonso said.
“The reception from the supporters for the team, the staff and for me was fantastic. I’m delighted.
“We want to build that connection with the fans. We want to give them good football and, in return, they can give us energy.
“Having a great atmosphere in this stadium can be a huge boost for the team.”
