Chelsea: Xabi Alonso visits Cobham with staff as new era gets underway early

In partnership with

Evening Standard

·5 June 2026

Chelsea: Xabi Alonso visits Cobham with staff as new era gets underway early

Blues manager does not formally start until July but is already getting to grips with his new surroundings

The incoming Chelsea manager was at Cobham with members of his coaching staff as they got a feel for their new club after the Spaniard agreed to become Liam Rosenior’s permanent successor.

Standard Sport understands Alonso discussed a range of topics with Chelsea staff as they gear up for a big summer that will feature new signings and sales, as well as the new manager’s first pre-season campaign.

Alonso’s trip to Cobham this week was to familiarise himself with Chelsea and the workings of the club, seeing as he is only set to formally take the reins as manager from July 1 onwards.

OneFootball Videos

Sebastian Parrilla was among the coaches to join Xabi Alonso at Cobham

Getty Images

Alonso has been in regular contact with Chelsea’s sporting directors about recruitment and transfers for weeks and dialogue is ongoing.

Members of his coaching staff, which includes Alberto Encinas, Sebastian Parrilla, Benat Labaien and Ismael Camenforte Lopez, joined Alonso on his recce of the club’s training ground.

Chelsea employ a handful of backroom staff members independently of whoever might occupy the head coach role.

That means Alonso is also set to work alongside the club’s head of goalkeeping Ben Roberts and also the set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva. Calum McFarlane, the former interim and caretaker head coach, will be a coach working alongside Alonso just as he was under Rosenior.

Speaking after Alonso’s appointment was confirmed, McFarlane backed the Spaniard to get Chelsea firing again: “[He is] very talented, massive pedigree. Yeah, really excited for the club. We're all looking forward to working with them.

“It's a massive club. I think we've got really exciting players coming to play here. Even though it's a disappointing season, they are showing at times this year the kind of quality that we have.”