Xabi Alonso says defender Reece James will remain Chelsea captain - and he wants Enzo Fernandez to stay at the club.
Chelsea began pre-season this week under new boss Alonso, who was appointed in May after leaving Real Madrid earlier this year, although he was working with a reduced squad as some players are still at the World Cup.
Two of his main men, James and Fernandez, were absent as they are set to face each other on Wednesday in England's blockbuster semi-final with Argentina, but the right-back will once again have the armband for the forthcoming season when he returns.
James, 26, was made club captain in August 2023, having started his career in the club's academy. He has been riddled with muscle injuries during his time at Chelsea, although he made 39 appearances in all competitions last season before making England's World Cup squad.
"He can do everything," said Alonso of James in an exclusive interview with Your Site News.
"He can attack from inside or outside. He can deliver, he's good at set-pieces, he has blue DNA, which is very important, and we transmit that to the whole team and new players. He's going to be the captain."
Argentina midfielder Fernandez signed for Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 for £106.8m, a British-record transfer at the time, and enjoyed his best season last term, scoring 10 Premier League goals and providing four assists in 36 appearances.
Fernandez has been linked with a move away from the club this summer, but Real Madrid publicly denied their interest in the 25-year-old and Alonso wants him to stay, having spoken privately to him.
"Enzo's a great player and we are looking forward to having him and start working together," said Alonso.
Meanwhile, Alonso confirmed there is interest from other clubs in winger Alejandro Garnacho.
The 22-year-old did not take part in Alonso's first training session this week and Your Site News has previously reported that Chelsea are prepared to sell him for £50m this summer.
Garnacho is one of the wingers Roma are interested in signing this summer, according to Sky in Italy.
Alonso said: "The situation is that we have spoken with the sporting directors and there is an interest for him from other clubs.
"So let's see how this develops. But hopefully, it finishes in the best possible way for all parties."
Alonso also said striker Nicolas Jackson, who spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, would join Chelsea's pre-season tour of Asia.
"I look forward to starting with Nico at that time," he said.
Alonso was keener to discuss his philosophy than to make any predictions about how Chelsea might fare in his first season in charge, but insisted European qualification was among the targets.
"For sure that's a goal," he said. "But to reach that goal, you need to do many right things and to be part of that process, how do we want to play, how we want to see ourselves, how we want to approach a game wherever we go.
"That's my job. That's why I am really looking forward to having the whole squad. At the moment, we have some bids, but it's early days so far.
"But for sure, we want to be there and time will tell. But we are ambitious and we in Chelsea need to share that energy, that ambition, as well as that hunger to want to have success."
