Xabi Alonso targets strong Chelsea spirit for Premier League push

Chelsea have used their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia to work on their football, but Alonso has also placed great importance on developing strong relationships within his squad.

The Spanish coach believes that togetherness away from the pitch can make a major difference when the pressure of competitive matches arrives.

"We want to have a great team spirit and that is built on a daily basis with a great culture in the building," Alonso said ahead of Chelsea's pre-season meeting with AC Milan in Jakarta.

"That helps in the moment you have to compete. You feel better having that togetherness, trust, and the bonds between the players are so important to ultimately building a winning mentality - and a team that can compete anywhere.

"So the football side is so important, but the mental side is as important. And the strength of the team is the most important."

Chelsea's tour has given Alonso valuable time to assess his players in training while also preparing them for the demands of the new campaign.

The Blues arrived in Jakarta before their latest fixture and held a training session at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in front of selected supporters.

Alonso said the tour had also provided an opportunity for Chelsea to connect with their global fanbase.

"This is the perfect time to get close to our supporters from Indonesia, or who can come to Jakarta," he said.

"We know football is global, so while we're based in London, we have great support everywhere and we see blue shirts wherever we have been.

"We have been able to train and prepare [during pre-season] and I am very happy with the attitude and personality. We know that it's a very important part of this tour."

Chelsea's next pre-season test is against AC Milan at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Saturday, as Alonso continues to prepare his squad for the new Premier League season.