According to a report by Football London on Monday, November 9, 2026, Xabi Alonso will have the chance to work closely with seven senior Chelsea players during the international break as he looks to address the team's recent struggles and prepare for the busy festive period.

Several members of Chelsea's first-team squad will remain at Cobham instead of joining their respective national teams, giving the manager additional time to work on his tactics and improve individual performances.

The Blues have endured a difficult period after suffering consecutive Premier League defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland.

They have also been knocked out of the Carabao Cup, leaving Alonso with several problems to address before domestic football resumes.

The seven senior players expected to remain available for training are Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck, Wesley Fofana, Emmanuel Emegha and Pep Chavarria.

Palmer and Colwill will particularly benefit from the opportunity to rebuild their confidence following disappointing displays in the defeat to Sunderland. Henderson and Welbeck will also have time to improve their chances of securing more regular playing opportunities.

However, Alonso will still have to deal with several injury concerns within his squad. Reece James, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato and Maxence Lacroix are among those continuing their rehabilitation instead of representing their countries during the break.

James is still struggling with a knee problem, while Lacroix is recovering from a hamstring injury. Joao Pedro is also working towards returning to full fitness.

Meanwhile, 13 Chelsea players have received international call-ups. Morgan Rogers is the club's only representative in Thomas Tuchel's latest England senior squad, while Estevao Willian is set to feature for Brazil.

Moises Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Geovany Quenda, Mike Penders, Romeo Lavia, Emiliano Martinez, Valentin Barco, Aaron Anselmino, Marco Palestra, Malo Gusto and Josh Acheampong are also expected to represent their respective countries.

Chelsea will not return to Premier League action until November 21, when they welcome Leeds United to Stamford Bridge.

The international break therefore provides an important opportunity for Alonso to work with the available players, address tactical shortcomings and improve the squad's overall preparation.

With Chelsea having lost ground in the race for Champions League qualification, securing a positive result against Leeds will be particularly important.