Every word Xabi Alonso said on Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix and Chelsea summer transfer plans

The full transcript from Xabi Alonso’s pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea’s pre-season friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday

Xabi Alonso spoke to the press on Monday for only the second time since becoming Chelsea manager.

The Blues’ pre-season tour is underway with the first leg being in Sydney, Australia. Alonso’s Chelsea trained at Sky Park – Sydney FC’s training facility – on Monday morning before the manager spoke to the media.

Sydney FC’s city rivals, Western Sydney Wanderers, await Chelsea for Alonso’s first friendly (that is available for the public to watch). Here is every word Alonso had to say on signing Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix, Chelsea’s transfer plans, and much more:

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Excited about the signing of Rogers?

For sure it’s a great signing. In that position we needed an important player and I’m sure there were not many more better options than Morgan Rogers. It means a lot for everyone and for the players that are already here as well – they have a good feeling and we’re looking forward to having him in a few weeks.

You’re adding Lacroix as well…

We want to build a competitive team. We are in that process. We have great quality, great talent, and we need to know what it takes to compete in the Premier League. We want a squad with the right balance between quality and mentality. Those things need to match in terms of maturity stage, where you are in your career, the moment that this point is coming for each player, the hunger, the desire, the commitment. But I think that we are starting in a new season with good energy. That’s important.

Rogers deal happened quickly…

Luckily it happened quickly and now we have Morgan. We were looking at him for a long time, for sure. He’s going to be a key player for the team, for sure.

Have you had conversations with Rogers?

That stays confidential.

Is there now a focus on trimming squad?

We have to be ready. The market is open for a few weeks. We need to be aware of different positions, different situations, so for sure, we have a plan, an idea, and we need to assess in the right moments. We can’t say what’s going to happen but some things might happen.

Where do you see Rogers’ best position?

One of his best qualities is that he is flexible. In that pocket position, close to the striker, close to our No.10, but he’s played as well on the right side, but more coming from the left. He feels he is enjoying his game, his flow, and I’m sure he will have good connections with the other players around him. If we get those connections right, that will be a great step forward in the quality of our game.

How long have you appreciated Rogers?

I love football. Even when I was in Germany, I followed the Premier League. When I was in Spain as well. And now, much more. I know a lot of players.

It’s a statement signing at £117million…

When we started talking, we wanted to build a competitive squad, and you need players who can have that almost instant impact, and I’m sure Morgan won’t need much time to adapt to the club, to the system, to his team-mates. That was the idea that we wanted and to get a top player and Morgan is one of them.

Do you want a slimmer squad?

We need to know that probably there will still be some movements. We need to be flexible and quick to act. The main thing is that we have a clear idea, a clear plan that we have built. Probably it will change until the last day of the market being open.

Want a smaller squad?

I want all of the squad.

Is there a number in mind for how many players you need?

Not too long, not too short, what is the number? I can’t give you that number. But for sure, we need to have options because you know that we could be unlucky with injuries so we need to prepare for that. We can have different circumstances. We need to manage minutes. We have two cups as well, so we need to fight for them as hard as in the Premier League. Once we get the right balance in terms of qualities, personalities, maturity moments, hopefully we are looking at that when we start the first Premier League game in August.

Who will be your No.1 goalkeeper?

All the positions. Everything is open. The competition within the squad is positive and I like that.

Is there a plan in place for Rogers and Cole Palmer to play alongside each other?

I have a plan. I have an idea. I can see them linking really well. We need to have a good mix. If we get that balance right and those special players in the right positions with good control, then we will be more competitive with the ball and against the ball, we need to be good.

How different is the Premier League since you left Liverpool in 2009?

It’s changed a lot. I left a long time ago, 2009. The progression and development of the league, of the teams, of the clubs, the coaches, the players. They were good years but I hope I can enjoy it now as a manager. We have great qualities to work with. Now for sure, the ones who are training, they are doing well, they have good energy, we are spending time with players from the academy. I didn’t know them that well but they have really impressed me. They are young but have top, top, top quality. The Premier League is a very competitive environment.

Time to introduce your style?

We need to go step by step. For that we need to create good energies, good chemistry in the team. The team that will start in August won’t be the same team that finishes in May, and I’m sure that team in May will be better than the first day.

What are your goals for the season?

I don’t want to talk too early about our goals. We want to have a good season. We want to deserve to be as high as possible. For that, we need to work hard, to develop this team, with new players, a new coach, new ideas. Sometimes that takes longer. Sometimes it happens spontaneously quicker. Be ready to try to develop this idea we have, this plan. So far, we have good feelings. Gradually, the other players will be coming and we need to bring them into this dynamic as quickly as possible.

You’re a tactically flexible manager?

We will be flexible in our tactics, in our approach, in our game plans. We have our principles, what we want can be the same, but we have tried and we will try different ideas. It’s about updating, developing something they have done with new concepts, which each manager has.

You seem very hands-on in training…

I like it, I feel it, I need to be close to the team, to participate with the energy, with the intensity I like. If I can run and touch the ball then I like that.

Will Rogers be fit and ready for start of season?

Yes. All the ones who come later because they reached the final stages of the World Cup, they will be ready. We have a few of them so they have to be ready.

Chelsea had the least distance covered in Premier League last season – need to up intensity in team?

We need to compete. We need to have good energy. We need to run. We need to work hard. We need to have the sacrifices which are compulsory and mandatory in each Premier League game. To win each game, it’s tough. We need to prepare for that and we are using this time. We will see in the first game.