Xabi Alonso Era Begins At Chelsea With First Cobham Session
Xabi Alonso’s era as the new Chelsea manager has begun, as the dynamic tactician led his first training session at the Blues’ Cobham facility on Thursday. Players like Levi Colwill and a number of academy stars were seen with the new boss on the grass, with Alonso sharing instructions.
The players partook in the usual medical testing first, before heading out onto the grass on a scorching afternoon to get some ball work done. A number of senior players were seen, including Cole Palmer, who did not make England’s World Cup squad. Joao Pedro and Estevao were also present, having both also missed out from Brazil’s World Cup squad.
The new arrivals were on the grass, as well. Emmanuel Emegha and Geovany Quenda were available to train. So was Dastan Satpayev, who was released early by his former club FC Kairat to join the Blues. Robert Sanchez and Levi Colwill were also available.
Colwill, particularly, will be pleased to partake in full training after the horrid season he endured due to injury. He suffered an ACL injury in August 2025, putting him in surgery and keeping him from the pitch through much of the season. He did play for 90 minutes back in April, but it was with the Blues’ under-21 side against Middlesbrough.
Eventually, he was back in the Chelsea first team as the season neared its end. However, he could do little to keep the Blues from sinking down to 10th. It is possible that Colwill will play in Xabi Alonso’s back three system, but it’s uncertain if the Blues will make defensive reinforcements, with the summer in full swing.
The Five Academy Prospects Called Up Under Xabi Alonso
Five academy prospects found their way to first-team training under Xabi Alonso on his first day managing affairs at Cobham. The quintet is made up of Landon Emenalo, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Reggie Walsh, Calvin Diakite, and Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli.
The most exciting prospect here is possibly Emenalo, who is the son of the Blues’ former technical director Michael Emenalo. The youngster joined when he was barely eight years old, and he remains a major prospect for crashing into first-team games this season.
Walsh is an exciting teenage midfielder. So is Nicoll-Jazuli, who got the chance to train with the first team during Enzo Maresca’s time in the dugout. Kavuma-McQueen has been prolific in youth games. Diakite is a high-prospect defender.
