According to a report by Football London on October 21, 2026, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has introduced an interesting training exercise as his players prepare for Saturday’s Premier League London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea have shown encouraging improvement since the October international break, winning their last two league matches under the Spanish coach. Their most recent success came against Everton, whom they defeated 2-0 to move into fourth place in the Premier League standings.

The Blues will now focus on Tottenham, who boosted their confidence with a 3-1 victory over Coventry City on Monday. Despite their opponents’ recent improvement, Chelsea will approach the encounter positively after winning their previous six meetings against Spurs.

One of the biggest highlights from Chelsea’s latest training session at Cobham was the reception given to Pedro Neto by his teammates. The Portuguese winger scored both goals in the victory over Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, securing three valuable points for Alonso’s team.

Following his impressive display, Neto received a guard of honour from his teammates, who congratulated him on his outstanding contribution. His goalscoring form could prove important as Chelsea prepare for another demanding Premier League fixture.

Defender Jorrel Hato also appeared in good spirits in the training photographs and videos released by the club. He impressed during the Everton encounter after being included in the starting lineup at short notice, replacing Pep Chavarria. His performance could strengthen Alonso’s confidence in his available defensive options ahead of the Tottenham match.

Chelsea also included three academy prospects, Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Reggie Watson and Olutayo Subuloye, in first-team training. The youngsters had an opportunity to work alongside experienced senior players as preparations continued for the weekend fixture. However, their involvement in Saturday’s match remains uncertain because Chelsea’s Under-18s and Cobham Next Gen teams are also scheduled to play that day.

Goalkeeper Mike Penders attracted attention during a small-sided training exercise involving the outfield players. He was the only player wearing a fluorescent yellow bib, while the other participants were divided into orange and white teams.

According to Football London, Penders may have been operating as a neutral player, commonly known as a “magic man”, who supports whichever team has possession. The exercise helps players improve their passing, movement, awareness and decision-making under pressure.

The session could also help prepare Penders for situations in which Tottenham’s pressing forces Chelsea to play out from the back.

Meanwhile, Malo Gusto and Pep Chavarria were absent from the latest training footage. Gusto reportedly suffered an injury before the Everton match, while Chavarria became ill shortly before the game despite travelling with the squad.

Their absence has raised concerns about their availability for Saturday’s derby, although the published footage does not confirm whether either player will miss the encounter.