Xabi Alonso hopes Chelsea can deliver a more complete performance.

The eighth round of the 2026/27 Premier League season will feature a London derby, with Chelsea hosting Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. Manager Xabi Alonso stated in a press conference that he hopes the team can play more cohesively during the match and is prepared to handle different situations.

Chelsea defeated Everton 2-0 in the seventh round of the Premier League, thanks to two goals from Pedro Neto. With this second consecutive win, Chelsea currently sits in fourth place in the standings with 13 points.

For Tottenham Hotspur, De Zerby's team defeated Coventry City 3-1 in the last round of the Premier League, achieving their first victory of the season.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said, "We need to play a very complete game, whether it's attacking, defending, or showing fighting spirit when things get tough. We have to be prepared because all sorts of different situations can happen in a game."

"We need to prove once again that we can continue our good momentum, while also recognizing that this is a special competition. We need to stay clear-headed and fully committed, playing with both wisdom and passion. Tomorrow, we need to deliver an outstanding performance across the board."

Xabi Alonso said, "Even when the results are not ideal, I have seen the strength of Tottenham Hotspur. Therefore, we expect this to be a tough game. The opponent is very strong and has many things they do very well."

"It's only a matter of time before we face strong opponents. We'll have three consecutive high-profile matches against top clubs. That's how the Premier League is; it's nothing new. So, we'll take it one step at a time and focus on the games at hand first."

When discussing the current injury situation of the squad, Xabi Alonso said, "Gusto is fine, Chavarria is gradually increasing his training sessions, but he's not ready for the game against Tottenham. Emega is feeling much better, but we still need to wait."

In addition, Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez suffered a jaw injury in a collision with an opposing player during the previous match against Everton, but he has already undergone surgery.

Xabi Alonso stated, "Emiliano Martinez underwent surgery and is feeling better every day, but we still need to be patient. It's expected to take several more weeks for him to recover. Hopefully, the actual recovery time will be shorter than anticipated, but that's still uncertain."

"The good news is that he is improving. Next, we need to carefully listen to how he feels and the advice of the medical team. Considering the severity of this injury, his current recovery is already quite good."

Image source: Internet