Chelsea don take gentle walk around Sydney harbour today, stretching leg before dia first pre-season game under Xabi Alonso wey go happen later today for Accor Stadium. Our club photographer bin dey snap pictures of the team walk.
Plenty new players go make dia debut as Alonso lead Chelsea into first public pre-season friendly of the summer against Western Sydney Wanderers. The Blues don win two behind-closed-doors friendlies already, but now dem dey Australia to play under fans and media scrutiny.
Alonso don reportedly use 4-2-3-1 system for those matches and e go stick to the same formation. New signing Marco Palestra chief among players wey go debut. Emanuel Emegha and Geovany Quenda bin hope for same but dem left for London after picking small injuries.
Alonso bring enough players to use different XI for each half and e go blend youth and experience. Jorrel Hato, wey go be first-choice left-back this season, go start, with Palestra for opposite side. Alonso want give Levi Colwill minutes after e miss most of last season with ACL injury. Aaron Anselmino go get try-out after impressive loan spells for Borussia Dortmund and Strasbourg last season.
Romeo Lavia dey similar position with Colwill and need game time. Reggie Walsh don impress Alonso for training and go get chance, but Dario Essugo fit play defensive midfield. Jamie Gittens miss long stretches last season with hamstring problem but don score for behind-closed-doors matches and go continue for Accor Stadium. Estevao don return and go start opposite am.
Cole Palmer go play as number 10, with Joao Pedro for top. Highly-rated Kazakh striker Dastan Satpayev wey arrive this summer go hope for chance, plus Omari Kellyman and other youngsters. British-record signing Morgan Rogers never join squad, and most players wey play World Cup like Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, and Pedro Neto no dey yet.
