The 20-year-old defender is part of the squad which has travelled abroad during the summer on tour, starting with back-to-back games in Sydney, Australia, alongside the usual rigorous training schedule to prepare for the upcoming campaign.

Pre-season always gives players a chance to get to know any new team-mates and, in this case, a new manager and his coaching staff. Acheampong discussed what Alonso expects from his defenders, as well as revealing the Spaniard can still demonstrate the talents which made him a UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup winner as a player.

‘I think the main thing he wants from us is to defend first, to be fair,’ said Acheampong. ‘Obviously, he also likes defenders that can play on the ball, so it's just about asking and learning, to be honest.

‘I was watching YouTube clips of him when I was younger – and still now just to learn. I feel like because he can demonstrate it – like, for example, his passing, he'll just do it and then it's like: "Wow”. So you can see first-hand what it's like to be on that level, so it’s good.

‘I swear, a couple of training sessions ago, he was just like: "Josh". Then he just zinged a few balls to me, and I was feeling the pressure! I was like: "I don't know how he does it so effortlessly", but it's good.’

Despite his young age, Acheampong is no stranger to spending his summer on tour with the senior team, first doing so in the USA two years ago. But while pre-season is already familiar to him, he believes he has changed a lot since his first tour, thanks to his regular involvement in the first team during that time.

‘It’s not too different,’ he continued. ‘I feel like I‘ve still got the same excitement and hunger and just trying to enjoy it as much as possible.

‘I think I've learned a lot since the first tour. Off the pitch I've got a lot more confident, I'd say. It's been good to connect with new people and then, on the pitch, I feel like there's still a lot more to come from me. I feel like game by game, every session, I'm learning more.

‘Obviously playing games, growing closer to my team-mates, and I can help the younger lads as well. Even though I'm young myself, I can help them.

‘Because I've been in their situation, I feel like I can give them some advice, and they're already nice people, so it's good.’

That experience has taught Acheampong the importance of getting into the happy habit of winning football matches, even during pre-season when there are no points on offer for the victors, leaving him pleased to have kicked off our time in Australia by beating Western Sydney Wanderers 6-4.

‘100 per cent, I think that’s the whole thing we're going for this season. It's mentality, that winning mentality. So to start with a win was good.

‘It was nice to see the fans too, especially the ones who have travelled. It's a big commitment, so it's always nice to see the fans.’

Those supporters are always happy to see Chelsea win, but never more so than when it is against our local rivals Tottenham. Our next match sees the Blues return to Stadium Australia to face Spurs in the first London derby between the two sides played outside the capital.

In addition to the rivalry, it is a game which has added significance for our defender, who made his senior Chelsea debut in a Premier League win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, shortly before joining that pre-season tour in 2024.

‘That experience of my debut all went quite quickly, to be honest,’ he recalls. ‘I didn't really expect it, but it's kind of like the start of my journey. So every time I play Tottenham, I feel like it just holds a special place in my heart – and it's always nice to beat them!

‘When it's that fixture, there are no friendlies. So it’ll be good.’

Acheampong and his fellow Blues take on Tottenham in Sydney at 10.45am UK time on Saturday 1 August, with the game being shown live on the Official Chelsea App and website with a CFC+ subscription. You can get more information and sign up to watch all of our pre-season games live here.