According to The Athletic, Chelsea are embarking on a new cycle following Xabi Alonso's appointment, with a significant squad overhaul planned this summer as they aim to re-establish themselves among Europe's elite by the 2026-27 season.

Alonso's arrival eased the gloom following Chelsea's 2025-26 season, which saw them finish a disappointing 10th in the Premier League. This summer has also brought a flurry of transfer activity, most notably the £117 million signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.

But after a pre-season tour largely confined to Australia and Asia, how prepared are they for the new season? Here are some key questions.

What are the internal expectations at the club?

Champions League qualification is a must next season. In the four years since Clearlake acquired the club, Chelsea have qualified for Europe's premier club competition only once.

Given the significant investment in this squad, such a record is unacceptable. Chelsea's current operating model will also become increasingly difficult to sustain if the club remains absent from the Champions League for an extended period, as the revenue generated from regular participation becomes ever more crucial.

Of course, there are also reasons to expect higher targets. Many key players have had a more comprehensive rest this summer, and with a significantly less congested fixture list, Chelsea have an opportunity to gain a substantial advantage over their Premier League rivals. If Alonso can quickly build positive momentum in the opening weeks of the season, this team will be very dangerous for opponents.

Domestic cup competitions will also be enticing targets, but the most important thing is to secure a top-four finish, or at the very least, squeeze into the top five if UEFA coefficient standings are favorable.

Who have they signed?

Rogers is the biggest name, but Chelsea have also brought in Lacroix from Crystal Palace, Palestra from Atalanta and Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano. Winger Geovany Quenda has also finally completed his pre-agreed move from Sporting CP, while Emega and Valentin Barco have joined from sister club Strasbourg, owned by BlueCo.

To add experience to the Premier League's youngest squad, Chelsea have also made the surprising signings of Henderson and Welbeck from Brentford and Brighton, respectively.

What are their priorities before the transfer window closes?

Squad clear-out. Chelsea have already recouped over £140 million through the sales of Cucurella, Santos, Trevoh Chalobah, and Tyrique George. Garnacho has also joined Aston Villa on loan, with an easily triggered conditional mandatory purchase clause that will convert the move into a permanent transfer next year. Napoli have also agreed to sign Badiashile on a season-long loan with an option to buy. However, the club still have much work to do to offset transfer spending and streamline Alonso's large first-team squad.

The list of players ranging from "not untouchable" to "very likely to be moved on" is long, including Enzo, Pedro Neto, Gusto, Jackson, Delap, Guiu, and Disasi. Many more young players need loans or would benefit from them.

What else is new?

Alonso! This is the first time in the Clearlake era that Chelsea is led by a head coach rather than a head coach, which has substantially changed how the club's sporting management operates internally. He has also brought four coaches to Stamford Bridge: assistant coaches Sebas Pardo, Alberto Encinas, Benat Labaien, and fitness coach Ismael Camenforte Lopez.

There is also a notable new face in Chelsea's restructured backroom staff: set-piece specialist Austin MacPhee, who joined from Villa this summer. His predecessor, Bernardo Cueva, has moved into a technical analyst role at the club.

What was the biggest lesson they learned from last season?

The team was too young, emotionally unstable, and lacking in physical and mental toughness. Furthermore, they had a head coach who lacked real authority and could not rectify these issues. Alonso brings genuine presence and pedigree, Henderson and Welbeck add maturity to the dressing room, while Rogers, Lacroix, Palestra, Quenda, and Emega all enhance the team’s physical prowess.

Who were the top performers in pre-season?

With significant rotation in the matches, the answer is not entirely clear, but João Pedro continued his form from the 2025-26 season, when he was named Chelsea's player of the year. He scored a hat-trick against Western Sydney Wanderers in Sydney, two goals in a 3-0 win over Milan in Jakarta, and another two against Real Sociedad.

What are they worried about?

Everyone seems quite happy and relaxed right now, but that could quickly change if key signings fail to settle, Alonso's ideas take time to take hold, and Chelsea make a poor start to the Premier League season.

How is the head coach feeling?

In his first few weeks at Chelsea, Alonso has consistently exuded calm confidence and authority.

During a pre-season tour interview with a group of journalists, including The Athletic, he also said he used the break in his coaching career to reflect on his mistakes at Real Madrid last season and believes it will make him a better coach at Stamford Bridge.

Alonso said: "Looking back, I will take the positives and also see what didn't work. I am very demanding of myself, and I have seriously thought about the parts I could have done better because things didn't go as expected... You learn from those disappointments that should not have happened, and then you try to believe that the future will be better."

What are Alonso's chances of lasting the whole season?

Hard to say, but let's give it 95% for now. Clearlake desperately needs Alonso to succeed, and if he were to leave before next May, it would likely indicate that the entire project is in serious trouble. The environment is also clearly more favorable than last summer, when Chelsea won the FIFA Club World Cup at the cost of a severely compressed pre-season.

The 21-year-old Penders, who was on loan at Strasbourg last season, will become Chelsea's number one goalkeeper by the end of the year.

What is their strongest starting XI?

With so many new faces, and potentially further significant adjustments if Enzo leaves, the answer is particularly difficult. However, Alonso might favor this lineup at the start of the season:

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Alexis; James, Lacroix, Colwill, Palestra; Caicedo and Enzo; Estêvão, Palmer and Rogers; Pedro.

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