Xabi Alonso has insisted that Cole Palmer remains fully dedicated to representing England, explaining that Chelsea’s No 10 sat out the latest international window because of discomfort connected to the groin injury that sidelined him for a significant part of last season. Thomas Tuchel expressed frustration with Palmer, who is available for Saturday’s match against […]
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With Rogers, Palmer and Joao Pedro delivering impressive attacking performances this season, the Blues understand that their defensive weaknesses must be addressed. Alonso said his side created one or two promising opportunities to score the winner but remained vulnerable at the other end. He admitted he was disappointed, believed the team could improve and felt […]
Continue ReadingWhile Haaland is primarily known as a dedicated goalscorer, Joao Pedro has operated in midfield, as a number 10 and on the wing throughout his career, giving him a broader range of abilities. Alonso, who played 195 matches with former Ballon d’Or winner Benzema at Real Madrid, also identified similarities between the French striker and […]
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For the leading Premier League sides, this tournament typically provides a chance to test young talent and offer much-needed playing time to squad members on the fringes. Yet Danny Welbeck, aged 35, was the only starter to make a convincing argument for a more prominent role, scoring two goals in the process. Valentin Barco found […]
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Control against chaos. One side represents structure, discipline and carefully rehearsed patterns; the other embraces something more instinctive, accepting football’s flaws and unpredictability. From that perspective, it is wiser to move with the storm than to imagine it can ever be fully contained. That was how the rivalry between Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp seemed […]
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Chelsea’s collapse against Brighton & Hove Albion last April may eventually be remembered as a decisive moment. That embarrassing defeat hastened Liam Rosenior’s departure and prompted the Stamford Bridge leadership to reassess its plans, resulting in Xabi Alonso’s arrival, a revised recruitment approach, the JP Morgan attacking trio and Robert Sánchez losing his position as […]
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A fresh start has become essential. It may be an exaggeration to suggest Chelsea have transformed from a talent factory into a home for veterans after recruiting Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, but their summer strategy has clearly evolved. Experienced figures have finally been added, and Xabi Alonso will hope their maturity helps a youthful […]
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Xabi Alonso has declined to confirm whether Chelsea would reject an attempt from Manchester City to buy Enzo Fernández. Uncertainty continues to surround Fernández’s future, and a departure from Stamford Bridge remains possible despite Chelsea’s informal deadline for written offers of £120m for the 25-year-old Argentina midfielder having passed. City are considering a late approach […]
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Head coach Xabi Alonso says Enzo Fernandez has displayed an “excellent mentality” since returning to Chelsea, despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding the midfielder’s future. In late May, Chelsea reached an agreement with Fernandez’s representative, Javier Pastore, allowing the Argentina international to depart for £120m, with 14 August established as the deadline for offers. No official proposal […]
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Chelsea’s difficulties continued as their pre-season campaign concluded with an unusually heated draw against Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim. The warning signs are concerning: an overcrowded group of attacking players, reminders of last season’s lack of experience and discipline, and less than two weeks for new head coach Xabi Alonso to bring important players back […]
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