Chelsea Make Pre-Season Winning Start After Consecutive Behind-Closed-Doors Friendlies Victories | OneFootball

The Xabi Alonso era is underway as Absolute Chelsea previews the pre-season tour of Australia and Asia. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

Chelsea have won both of their behind-closed-doors friendly matches against Crawley Town and Bromley, it has been revealed.

Xabi Alonso's side organised two fixtures against EFL opposition ahead of flying to Australia and Asia for their pre-season tour.

It gave the first-teamers who have already reported back to Cobham for duty a chance to build up their minutes and fitness.

Chelsea first played Crawley Town at the weekend and claimed a 3-1 victory over the League Two side.

Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Emmanuel Emegha bagged the goals for Chelsea to seal victory for the Blues.

A few days later, on Thursday (July 23), Chelsea were back in action for their second match, this time against Bromley, who clinched promotion to League One for the 2026/27 season.

Different opposition but the same result for Chelsea. They, once again, put three past the opposition, and this time successfully managed to keep a clean sheet.

Gittens and Emegha bagged their second goals of pre-season, each getting on the scoresheet, while Joao Pedro also clinched a goal.

Alonso will be starting to take notice of the intricate details as he looks to get his new side ready for the upcoming campaign.

What formation the Spaniard will opt to play next season remains unclear. He is likely to be fluid depending on the opposition, with Chelsea reported to have played a 4-2-3-1 system against Bromley, as they did against Crawley.

Following the attacking arrivals of Geovany Quenda, Emegha and Morgan Rogers, Alonso has plenty of options at his disposal. The trio bolsters the forward options of Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Estevao, Gittens, Pedro Neto, Delap and Nicolas Jackson.

Marc Guiu is expected to leave, whilst decisions are looming over the futures of Delap and Jackson. With Alejandro Garnacho departing for Aston Villa and interest in Bayer Leverkusen's Kerim Alajbegovic, it could mean another winger is sold to balance the books and the squad.

Chelsea will be keen to come through pre-season unscathed despite the 10,500+ one-way flight to Sydney, Australia. Their priorities over the coming weeks are clear: build the minutes, figure out personnel, and for the squad to be shaped to Alonso's liking in the transfer market - both incomings and outgoings.

All eyes will be on Chelsea, who are without European football next term, which will afford them the option of a settled starting XI should they wish, given the need for rotation won't be as rife as their competitors.