With no European football on our agenda this term, Alonso has enjoyed more quality time with his squad on the training pitches at Cobham during the opening months of his tenure.

That has been important for the Spaniard, who is still embedding his tactical principles and forging close bonds with his players. He has overseen a largely positive start to the campaign, with the Blues fourth in the top flight having taken 16 points from our opening nine fixtures.

Our tenth takes place this afternoon as we travel to Sunderland, who, in contrast to the Blues, are competing in European football for the first time in more than 50 years.

That comes with its own pressures and a more punishing schedule. Yet it's one Alonso wants – and one he insists he and his players are working toward.

'The ambition is to be back there [in Europe],' the Blues manager explained during his pre-match press conference. '[We want it] to be just one season that we are having long weeks. The aim, the desire, the hunger is to have busy weeks, to have to deal with three games a week, and that we'll see each other much more.

'It's not that it hurts now, because you deal with it, but this is where we want to be.'

As a two-time Champions League winner and someone who made 119 appearances in the competition during his playing career, Alonso is well-versed in the demands that come with performing at the top table of European football.

He wants Chelsea to be back on that stage, but appreciates that only comes through hard work and consistency in the months ahead.

'We want to be playing in Europe, in big stadiums, having top teams in Europe because I think that we can be there, but we need to earn it to be there.

'We like football and, unfortunately, we can only comment [on what has taken place during a European gameweek]. The feeling is that we want to be there, but we need to deserve that.'