Palestra on Chelsea move: ‘I want to give my all’

Photo: Neusa Cadore from Salvador, Brasil / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Italian defender Marco Palestra has outlined his reasons for joining Chelsea and expressed confidence in manager Xabi Alonso ahead of the new Premier League season, speaking to media during the club's pre-season tour in Jakarta.

'I'm very happy to be here and I chose Chelsea because, for me, it's one of the best teams in club football,' Palestra told the gathered press at the GBK Stadium.

The defender, who played every match for Cagliari in Serie A last season, acknowledged the step up in competition but insisted he is ready. 'Of course the Premier League is a difficult league to play in but I'm really confident,' he said.

Palestra was particularly emphatic about the influence of head coach Xabi Alonso, who he credited as a key factor in the squad's optimism. 'Xabi gives us good ideas and we've followed him since the first day,' he said. 'Not only me, but all my team-mates are happy to be managed by someone like Xabi Alonso.'

Chelsea will not be competing in the Champions League this season, a fact Palestra acknowledged. 'It's true that we don't have Champions League football this year, but there are a lot of big teams in the Premier League and I'm sure if we follow the ideas of Xabi, and improve every day, we can have a big season.'

The Italian said his focus is firmly on the season ahead rather than his previous career. 'I don't worry about the past. My focus is on this season, because I'm very happy to be here and I want to give my all to Chelsea.'