CRAVEN COTTAGE — Xabi Alonso’s first competitive match as Chelsea manager saw them take the lead after 32 seconds, almost trip over their own feet thanks to Robert Sanchez doing what we are becoming increasingly used to calling Robert Sanchez things and then the attacking spending eventually proving its worth. Tell us something we don’t know?
The likely transition seasons for Liverpool and Manchester City created a potential vacuum for a title challenger to Arsenal. Chelsea’s vast investment – this summer and in others – demands that they be taken seriously, even if everything about them quickly becomes soaked in farce and soap opera.
Perhaps we should save the jokes for now – OK Robert, you sit this one out. For all the quantity in Chelsea’s squad, some of which might leave before next Monday, they possess a front three that may rival anything else in Europe if all hit their straps.
Joao Pedro has been one of Europe’s best strikers over the last 13 months; his absence from Brazil’s World Cup squad was a disgrace but can be to Chelsea’s significant boon.
Cole Palmer was troubled by form and fitness issues last season, but produced the 2024-25 vintage at the Cottage. Palmer’s ability to draw a committed movement from a defender before skipping away is something to behold in person. One second-half dribble past four players had the away end singing “Palmer again, ole ole.” He scored less than a minute later.
Sanchez’s howlers are nothing new (Photo: Getty)The missing piece, maybe, is Morgan Rogers and not just because Palmer having his best mate in the same dressing room can be no bad thing. The list of starting left-wingers for Chelsea in the league last season, from most appearances to least: Alejandro Garnacho, Pedro Neto, Jamie Gittens, Enzo Fernandez, Jesse Derry, Marc Cucurella. Rogers is not likely to hug a touchline, but who cares when he can feed off the other two by creating space and dragging opponents towards him.
Crucially, the three are going to see an awful lot of each other in Alonso’s system. Jorel Hato and Malo Gusto were the wing-backs; even if you are not entirely convinced by their attacking output, the simple mechanics of having them wide and high means Rogers and Palmer can either move central, drift deeper or both.
A word too for Maxence Lacroix, Chelsea’s other debutant who was near faultless in defence and created Rogers’ goal with a shimmy and cross that both Palmer and Rogers would have delighted in producing. The wide centre-backs will have licence to roam in this system. That is exciting enough to keep us fascinated.
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Transfers: Chelsea have three Alex Scott bids rejected by Bournemouth Daniel Storey: West Ham’s future is uncomfortably fragileThis is still a work in progress for two obvious reasons. Firstly, there are so many mouths to feed in the first-team squad that Alonso must rotate even without European football as a distraction. Secondly, their goalkeeper is below Premier League level at saving shots without palming the ball forward rather than wide. Perhaps it’s time to give the 6ft 7in backup goalkeeper a go – hey big Penders?
Alonso was certainly given the full experience. Chelsea’s new manager can go back to Spain next month if he likes, safe in the knowledge that he got the whole gamut. Or maybe he will stick around; given the lavish investment this silly club has long been a place where managers believe that they can be the guy to lift the fog and finally produce a serious title challenger.
Next May will mark 10 years since Chelsea last finished in the Premier League’s top two, an embarrassing drought. Given the flux around them and the sheer weight of quality in the final third at Alonso’s disposal, they will hardly have a better chance.
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