Secret friendlies and promoting youngsters - Alonso's first week at Chelsea

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Xabi Alonso agreed a four-year deal to join Chelsea in May By Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter Published 5 minutes ago Xabi Alonso's start to pre-season has been likened to more of a Mauricio Pochettino blueprint than an Enzo Maresca one. The 44-year-old has focused on improving the physicality of his squad in the early stages of his reign after Chelsea were outrun by their opponents in all but one of their Premier League matches last season. Alonso's message to the players has been positive. While the former Real Madrid manager has been keen not to dwell on last season's shortcomings, his coaching at Cobham suggests he has been paying close attention to them. "Soul, purpose and good energy" were among the key messages Alonso highlighted in his first in-house interview. Although he praised the core of his squad, he said Chelsea would have to get a lot right on both the training pitch and in the transfer market to qualify for Europe again. His comments suggest he has identified what was missing in a campaign in which Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League after two permanent managers departed and the season ended under the stewardship of a caretaker boss for the final six matches. While clues about the future have been spotted in his first few days, the real picture won't emerge until he faces his former team-mate and Real Madrid managerial successor Alvaro Arbeloa at Fulham on the opening day of the Premier League season in late August. Youngsters get chance to impress Alonso Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Estevao Willian is back in pre-season training having been injured at the end of last season and not being fit enough to be selected for Brazil at the World Cup Alonso and his wife, Nagore Aranburu, are in the process of finding a permanent home in London. The city itself was a major attraction for the couple, who are interested in culture, film and music and have teenage children. They remained in Spain until the day before the first training session. During that time, Alonso worked remotely on transfer business with Chelsea 's five-strong sporting director team, with whom he appears to have quickly built a positive relationship . It was from Spain that Alonso spoke to Marc Cucurella before his move to Real Madrid, called Enzo Fernandez to discuss his future and contacted transfer targets, including new full-back Marco Palestra , to outline his project. Alonso said he wants Fernandez to stay during his first media conference at Stamford Bridge on Monday. In addition, he had a fact-finding mission, first revealed by BBC Sport , in which Alonso and his staff visited Cobham in June, before their contracts began, to meet personnel and determine how they would fit into the club's structure. Last Thursday, Alonso had the players in for a full day but also had to settle into his new office, undertake in-house media duties and then take charge of his first training session. Training has includ