According to a report published by Football London on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has introduced an unusual training drill as his team prepares for Saturday’s Premier League London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. The exercise has attracted attention as the Blues continue preparations following a promising run of results.

Chelsea have shown improved form since the October international break, securing consecutive victories in the league. Their latest triumph came against Everton, whom they defeated 2-0 to climb to fourth place in the Premier League standings.

Attention has now shifted to their upcoming meeting with Tottenham, who moved out of the relegation zone after beating Coventry City 3-1 on Monday. Despite Tottenham’s recent improvement, Chelsea will approach the contest with confidence after winning their previous six encounters against their London rivals.

One of the highlights of Chelsea’s training session at Cobham was a guard of honour organised for Pedro Neto. The Portuguese winger scored twice in the victory over Everton, delivering an outstanding performance that secured all three points for his team. His teammates celebrated his contribution by forming a tunnel to welcome him during training.

Jorrel Hato also attracted attention after appearing in photographs and videos from the session. The defender impressed against Everton after receiving an opportunity to replace Pep Chavarria in the starting lineup. His display could improve his chances of featuring against Tottenham as Alonso considers his defensive options.

Chelsea also included academy players Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Reggie Watson and Olutayo Subuloye in first-team training. The experience offered the youngsters an opportunity to work alongside senior professionals, although their participation does not guarantee selection for Saturday’s match. Their commitments with the club’s youth teams could also affect their availability.

Goalkeeper Mike Penders was another notable figure during a small-sided exercise. Wearing a fluorescent yellow bib while teammates were divided into orange and white groups, he appeared to be performing a neutral role, commonly known in football training as a ‘magic man’.

The drill is designed to improve passing accuracy, movement, decision-making and possession under pressure. It could also help prepare Chelsea’s goalkeeper to contribute more actively when building attacks from the back against Tottenham’s pressing system.

Meanwhile, uncertainty remains over the fitness of Malo Gusto and Pep Chavarria, who were absent from the latest training footage released by Chelsea. Gusto had reportedly been managing an injury before the Everton match, while Chavarria travelled with the squad but became ill before kickoff.

Chelsea have not confirmed whether either defender will be unavailable for Saturday’s derby. Their fitness could influence Alonso’s final team selection as he seeks another important victory in the Premier League.