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

Chelsea have enjoyed an improvement in form since the October international break, winning their last two league matches under the Spanish tactician.

The Blues secured their latest victory with a 2-0 triumph over Everton, a result that lifted them to fourth place in the Premier League standings.

However, Chelsea face a difficult challenge against Tottenham, who climbed out of the relegation zone following a 3-1 victory over Coventry City on Monday. Despite the challenge, Alonso's men will approach the London derby with confidence, having won their previous six meetings with Spurs.

One of the major highlights of Chelsea's latest training session at Cobham was a guard of honour for Pedro Neto. The winger played a decisive role in the victory over Everton, scoring both goals to secure all three points for his team.

His teammates formed a tunnel to celebrate his outstanding performance at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, giving him a special reception during training.

Neto's impressive display against the Toffees will serve as a major confidence boost for Chelsea ahead of their encounter with Tottenham.

Meanwhile, defender Jorrel Hato was pictured smiling in the latest training photographs and videos released by the club. Hato impressed against Everton after being handed a late opportunity to start in place of Pep Chavarria.

His performance will give Alonso another option to consider as he determines his defensive lineup for Saturday's match.

Three Chelsea academy prospects, Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Reggie Watson and Olutayo Subuloye, also joined the first team in training this week. The youngsters gained valuable experience with the senior squad as Alonso prepared his players for the Everton fixture.

However, it remains uncertain whether any of them will be included against Tottenham, particularly as Chelsea's Under-18s and Cobham Next Gen teams are also scheduled to play on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Mike Penders also attracted attention during a small-sided training exercise. While the two teams wore orange and white bibs, Penders was the only player wearing a fluorescent yellow one.

According to Football London, the goalkeeper may have been assigned the role of a neutral player, commonly known as a 'magic man', during the drill.

This type of exercise is designed to encourage quick passing, intelligent movement, faster decision-making and greater confidence on the ball.

Alonso could be using the drill to prepare Penders for Tottenham's high-pressing approach. The goalkeeper may be required to operate as a back-post sweeper while using his distribution skills to help Chelsea play out from the back.

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

Gusto was reportedly carrying an injury before the Everton game, while Chavarria travelled with the squad to Merseyside but fell ill before kick-off.

Their absence has raised concerns about their availability for Saturday's London derby. However, the footage released by Chelsea has not confirmed whether either defender will miss the match.