Photo: Giovanni Batista Rodriguez / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Xabi Alonso has expressed confidence that Chelsea will be in shape for the start of the Premier League season, despite acknowledging the squad still has work to do in pre-season.
"I have confidence, motivation and a good feeling with the team, with the players, about what we want to achieve, so that when we start in the Premier League, we feel we are ready," Alonso said at a media briefing in Hong Kong.
Chelsea's opening Premier League fixture is against Fulham. Alonso conceded his side are "not where we are going to be" by that game, but said progress is being made across a pre-season camp that began at Cobham roughly three weeks ago.
The Blues have played two friendlies on their summer tour, facing A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers and then Tottenham Hotspur. A third match against Juventus is scheduled for Wednesday at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong.
"We are in the middle of pre-season; it's three weeks since we started and there are three weeks to go more or less," Alonso said. "We analyse every game for what we did right and how we can improve. After the Spurs game, we have analysed it, and tomorrow we face a great team with experienced players and a great coach. So, it's going to be a very interesting and good test."
Alonso also referenced players who have yet to join the training group at Cobham. "The feeling is that we will start in a good way," he added.