Alonso praises Sarri and Hazard

The 27-year-old has been crucial in Chelsea's perfect start to the season, and spoke of the new tactics under which he is playing:

"Things are working really well with Sarri. I am very happy and with Luis Enrique I can see many similarities.

"It's modern football – having the ball, controlling the game, and being well positioned when you lose possession. Both when you defend and when you attack it needs to be about possession and positioning is vital. The Chelsea training sessions are like the Spain ones – possession, bringing the ball out, lots of similar concepts.

"People were used to see me in a 3-5-2 because in Fiorentina that was also where I played. But the hard thing was to adapt to that when I arrived in Italy.

"I'll my life I had played in a back-four, at Real Madrid Castilla and at Bolton. This is me going back to my natural position. I'm very happy with Sarri's new system. I am just as happy or even happier than I was in Conte's 3-5-2.

Speaking about his partnership with Hazard, the Spaniard added: "It is the third year that we are sharing a wing and we each know each other's strengths.

"I try to give him one-on-one opportunities as often as possible because that is his strong point. And he looks to get me running in behind because he knows that's what I'm good at.

"The 2-0 against Bournemouth comes from a one-two where I run inside and he goes outside of me. With players like Hazard there are so many options."