Photo: Ardfern / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
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Levi Colwill has said he is fully fit and motivated ahead of Chelsea's pre-season tour of Australia, having missed the majority of last season with a serious knee injury sustained on the opening day of pre-season.
The England international returned to action towards the end of the 2025–26 campaign and is now preparing for his first full season under new manager Xabi Alonso.
"I'm ready to go," Colwill said at a pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's opening tour fixture against Western Sydney Wanderers. "I think having a tiny taste [of match action] at the end of last season really gave me that extra motivation to come back to pre-season with that fire in my belly."
Colwill described last year's injury as a significant personal test. "It was a really difficult time for me, with the injury. It happened on the first day of pre-season last year, and it was really tough to get my head around," he said. "Thankfully I'm back now, and I feel like I'm a stronger person mentally and physically."
The defender also spoke positively about working under Alonso, who took charge of Chelsea ahead of the new season. "It's an honour to play under a manager like him," Colwill said. "He's been so good so far and the training sessions have been really enjoyable."
Colwill offered an early indication of the style Alonso intends to implement. "He wants us to play, be brave on the ball as a team," the defender said. "He wants us to express ourselves and have the freedom to play passes and show off your qualities on the ball, which is perfect for me as I like to create attacks and show off my passing range."
Chelsea face Western Sydney Wanderers in their first fixture of the Australia leg of the pre-season tour.