According to a report by Football London on October 21, 2026, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has taken an unusual approach to training as his side prepare for their Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The Blues have enjoyed an improvement in form following the October international break, winning their last two league matches under the Spanish manager. Their latest victory came against Everton, whom they defeated 2-0 to climb to fourth place in the Premier League table.

Chelsea will now turn their attention to Tottenham, who secured a 3-1 victory over Coventry City on Monday to move out of the relegation zone. Despite Spurs' recent result, Chelsea will enter the London derby with confidence after winning their last six meetings against their rivals.

One of the main talking points from Chelsea's latest training session at Cobham was Pedro Neto receiving a guard of honour from his teammates. The winger played a decisive role in the 2-0 victory over Everton, scoring both goals to secure three important points for Alonso's side.

His performance earned him recognition from his teammates, who formed a tunnel and congratulated him for his contribution at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Neto's recent display will give Chelsea additional confidence as they prepare to face Tottenham.

Jorrel Hato also appeared cheerful in the latest training pictures and videos released by Chelsea. The defender impressed against Everton after being brought into the starting lineup at short notice, replacing Pep Chavarria.

His performance will be encouraging for Alonso as he considers his defensive options ahead of the Tottenham encounter.

Three Chelsea academy prospects, Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Reggie Watson and Olutayo Subuloye, were also involved in first-team training this week. Their involvement provided an opportunity to work alongside senior players as Alonso continued preparations for the upcoming fixture.

However, their availability for Saturday's match remains uncertain. Chelsea's Under-18s and Cobham Next Gen teams are also scheduled to play on Saturday, making it unlikely that the youngsters will feature against Tottenham.

Goalkeeper Mike Penders was another player who attracted attention during training after being involved in a small-sided exercise with Chelsea's outfield players.

Interestingly, he was the only player wearing a fluorescent yellow bib, while the two teams wore orange and white. According to football.london, Penders may have been performing the role of a neutral player, sometimes called a 'magic man', who joins whichever team has possession.

The exercise encourages quick passing, movement, decision-making and confidence in tight spaces. Alonso could be preparing his goalkeeper for Tottenham's pressing approach, with Penders expected to demonstrate composure when playing out from the back.

Meanwhile, Malo Gusto and Pep Chavarria were missing from Chelsea's latest training pictures and videos published by the club's media team.

Gusto reportedly suffered an injury before the Everton match, while Chavarria travelled with the squad to Merseyside but fell ill shortly before the game.

Their absence raises questions about their availability for Saturday's London derby, although the available training footage does not confirm whether either player will miss the match.