Robert Sanchez is confident Chelsea can do "great things" this season under Xabi Alonso, framing their lack of European football as a positive.

Chelsea endured a difficult 2025-26 campaign, with Enzo Maresca leaving in January before his replacement, Liam Rosenior, was sacked after just over three months in charge.

Under interim boss Calum McFarlane, the Blues eventually finished the campaign 10th in the Premier League, missing out on a place in Europe after a final-day defeat to Sunderland.

Sanchez believes that the quieter calendar will only benefit Chelsea as the season goes on, though, and he is optimistic about what they can achieve in 2026-27.

"I think this year is a positive," he said. "It can be a good thing that we do not have a European tournament, because we can focus on the league.

"It is good for us as a team and as a squad because we get that time, one game a week, and I have a feeling we can do great things this year.

"We have a new manager, and we are still trying to understand his game plan, what he wants from us. The most important thing [in pre-season] is everyone is getting minutes and putting in a good effort. The boys have done that.

"He [Alonso] is not rushing anything. He is checking every game, every area we are doing, and we are slowly integrating new things. Day by day, we are learning more, and we are hopefully getting better game by game."

Chelsea begin their Premier League campaign against Fulham on August 24 and have had a mixed pre-season so far.

They have lost to Tottenham and Juventus, but most recently blew away AC Milan on Saturday.

Chelsea are still waiting for some of their players to return from the World Cup, but Sanchez says Alonso is already influencing the squad.

"I feel amazing," Sanchez added. "Xabi has given me all the confidence in the world.

"He is allowing me to perform. I know what he wants me to do. He understands the strengths of every individual. He understands my strengths. He is going to allow me to do what I am best at this season.

"He has brought a different attitude, a lot of calm, into the squad. He is a really calm person. He brings that as a player because he used to play. I like his idea of football.

"I don't want to talk too much about it, but I like what he brings to the club and the staff. Everyone that has come is brilliant as well. I have a good feeling."