New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has wasted no time in reshaping the club's approach to fitness, introducing an intense pre-season training programme designed to improve the physical condition of his squad ahead of the new campaign.

The Spaniard is determined to address Chelsea's struggles from last season, during which the team was statistically outperformed by many of their Premier League rivals in terms of distance covered and overall intensity.

Training sessions at Cobham have already become noticeably more demanding, with reports suggesting the atmosphere resembles the high-energy methods previously introduced by former manager Mauricio Pochettino.

As part of his preparations, Alonso has assembled a specialist backroom team, including fitness coach Ismael Camenforte Lopez, whose responsibility is to ensure players maintain a consistently high tempo throughout training sessions.

Although the new manager has encouraged his players to embrace values such as commitment, purpose and positive energy, his immediate focus has been on building the squad's physical endurance before shifting attention to tactical preparations.

One of the standout performers during the opening days of pre-season has been Cole Palmer.

Despite battling recurring groin problems for much of last season, the England international produced an impressive display during Chelsea's squad-wide bleep test, finishing second overall.

Highly-rated youngster Reggie Walsh recorded the best result, while Brazilian prospect Estevão Willian completed the top three, highlighting the impressive fitness levels of several of the club's younger players.

Speaking about Palmer, Alonso praised the midfielder's determination to regain full fitness after his injury setbacks.

According to the Chelsea manager, Palmer has shown a strong desire to move beyond last season's physical challenges and possesses the qualities needed to become one of the team's most influential players if he remains healthy and confident.

Alonso has also made it clear that returning Chelsea to the UEFA Champions League is one of his primary objectives.

Unlike several previous appointments under Chelsea's current ownership, Alonso has assumed the role of manager rather than head coach, giving him greater influence over football operations and squad planning.

The enhanced responsibility allows him to work closely with the club's sporting directors on recruitment and long-term planning as Chelsea continue rebuilding the squad.

The former Spain international has already begun discussions with midfielder Enzo Fernández regarding his future role while also reaching out to newly signed defender Marco Palestra to outline his plans for the club.

While Alonso believes Chelsea already possess a solid core of talented players, he has acknowledged that additional signings will be needed to compete consistently in what he describes as the world's most competitive league.

Chelsea's preparations have also benefited from the early return of several senior players, many of whom were not involved in the latter stages of the FIFA World Cup, providing the coaching staff with additional time to work on fitness and tactical development.

The Blues are expected to face a demanding pre-season schedule, with fixtures planned across Sydney, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Johor, where they will test themselves against high-profile opponents including Tottenham Hotspur, Juventus and AC Milan.

The extensive tour is expected to provide Alonso with an early opportunity to assess both the physical condition of his squad and the progress of the new playing style he hopes to implement before the Premier League season begins.