Xabi Alonso can approach the new campaign with considerably more optimism after Chelsea brought their pre-season schedule to a close on Saturday afternoon.
The Blues played host to Alonso’s former club Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge and secured a comfortable 3-1 victory in west London. This marked the club’s sixth fixture of their summer schedule, or eighth if the private matches are included, rounding off a demanding period for the Spanish coach and his squad ahead of competitive action beginning in seven days.
When Alonso officially commenced his tenure as Chelsea’s head coach on July 1, enthusiasm would have been running high, though numerous uncertainties remained for the 44-year-old to address. While questions persist regarding several matters, Alonso will surely be in a far more positive frame of mind following six weeks of integrating himself with his new squad.
Results throughout the summer have not been flawless, and neither have the performances, yet pre-season primarily serves to build fitness levels and foster a stronger comprehension of the available personnel. With that context established, here are five key observations from Alonso’s inaugural pre-season campaign.
Fernandez and the extraordinary transfer situation
Paradoxically, one of the summer’s most significant narratives concerns a player who featured only once. Enzo Fernandez.
It represents an extraordinary transfer situation. A singular one as well. The informal cutoff Chelsea imposed essentially delivered an ultimatum to Manchester City, with the west London club indicating that 5pm the previous Friday was the absolute deadline for interested parties to secure Fernandez at the discounted fee of £120million.
If this was intended as a deterrent against Manchester City, it does not appear to have achieved that purpose. Information emerging from the Etihad Stadium indicates that last season’s runners-up, now under the management of former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, are prepared to pursue the Argentina international.
Fernandez’s solitary pre-season involvement occurred during Saturday’s triumph over Real Sociedad when he entered the match after 62 minutes. A section of the crowd expressed their displeasure while others responded by chanting his name, creating a remarkable scene in SW6.
Observing a player generate such polarising reactions among the supporter base is peculiar, and it remains equally compelling to witness how this situation ultimately resolves itself.
Chelsea’s prolific marksman
Joao Pedro concluded the pre-season period with eight goals across seven appearances, including the private fixtures. An impressive tally, with the Brazilian forward, whose exclusion from the World Cup squad grows more perplexing with every exceptional finish he produces, continuing where he left off from his inaugural season at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea acquired Joao Pedro for a combined package worth £60million approximately 13 months ago, a fee that raised eyebrows at the time yet increasingly resembles excellent business from the club’s standpoint. The 24-year-old adaptable attacker delivered strong performances during his debut campaign as a Chelsea player, though he appears poised to elevate his game further under Alonso’s guidance.
The possibility of Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers combining with Joao Pedro throughout the forthcoming season presents an enticing prospect for Chelsea’s supporters. And for Alonso, naturally.
Alonso’s tactical versatility and promise
Observing Alonso deploy his Bayer Leverkusen formation on Saturday proved fascinating. The former Spain international, who guided the German side to an unprecedented unbeaten campaign in 2023/24, organised his Chelsea side in a 3-4-2-1/3-4-3 shape against Real Sociedad, resembling the setup the German club employed during their record-breaking season.
Whether he maintains this approach when Chelsea make the short journey to Craven Cottage next week remains uncertain. Alonso predominantly employed a 4-2-3-1 formation during the majority of Chelsea’s pre-season programme, though the manager demonstrated his tactical adaptability at the weekend.
Maintaining unpredictability for opposing teams will prove crucial for Alonso during his first season in London. Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa possesses extensive knowledge of Alonso personally yet will have no insight into which system the Chelsea boss will employ in seven days’ time.