Xabi Alonso heaps praise on Chelsea’s front three after Fulham win

Xabi Alonso Sets Chelsea Terms After Fulham Win as Front Three Deliver

Chelsea opened the Premier League season with a 3-2 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage, and the obvious headline was the front three. Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers all scored, all looked sharp, and all gave an early glimpse of what this side might become under Xabi Alonso.

That said, Alonso was quick to shut down the easy narrative. This is not a team built to serve three attackers while everyone else fills space around them. He made that clear straight away. “They are going to be a very important part of the team,” Alonso said. “To build around them, no. To build the team with them.

“They need to take responsibility, they need to lead the rest, they need to inspire the rest, because if they do great, the other ones will follow.

“We need to reach them in the best possible situations. We need to have good links to reach them, and they need to help the team to be solid. I’m happy for the three of them. They have played for the team and they have scored, so it’s always important for the strikers.”

Photo: IMAGO

Chelsea front three impress early

There was real fluency between Palmer and Joao Pedro, who assisted each other, while Rogers, signed for £117million, got his goal and looked comfortable in the structure. Chemistry matters, but so does balance. Alonso’s point is simple, attackers win games, teams win seasons.

Midfield choices underline squad depth

Moises Caicedo’s midweek injury opened the door for Romeo Lavia, who started alongside Reece James in midfield. Enzo Fernandez was held back and introduced later, which raised the predictable question. Alonso’s answer was equally predictable, and sensible.

“We have different options, players that during the pre-season came in different stages, so all the players will play an important role,” Alonso said.

“This is about the team, this is about the squad. It’s not just that you have 14 players; we need 20 long to compete in this season.”

Chelsea ratings vs Fulham

Chelsea players and Alonso produced the result, but the message after the game was about structure, responsibility and depth. Early days, of course, but the shape of the project is already clear.

Cole Palmer, 9/10 Joao Pedro, 8/10 Morgan Rogers, 8/10 Romeo Lavia, 7/10 Reece James, 7/10 Enzo Fernandez, 6/10 Xabi Alonso, 8/10