Attacking trio can be Chelsea’s heart, manager Xabi Alonso says after debut win

LONDON – Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso toasted his winning debut in the English Premier League by praising his front line of Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer, who put on a masterclass of attacking football in a 3-2 London derby win at Fulham on Aug 24.

“They are going to be a very important part to build around them, to build the team with them,” the Spaniard told reporters.

“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.”

Pedro put Chelsea ahead after 31 seconds when he latched onto a pass from Palmer, who was back in the kind of dazzling form that stunned the Premier League after his move from Manchester City in 2023.

The Brazilian repaid the favour early in the second half when he set up Palmer to make it 3-1 to the visitors with an angled shot that flew between the legs of goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

That was after Rogers – the club’s record signing over the close season from Aston Villa – had marked his debut for the Blues by restoring their lead in the 41st minute.

Goals from Fulham’s Josh King and Gonzalo Garcia kept the hosts in the game until the end, but Chelsea’s 18 shots – six on target – helped send the visiting fans home confident of a big improvement on last season’s dismal 10th-place finish.

The Chelsea supporters happily dusted off their Palmer chant – something that was not heard much during that last campaign as he struggled with injury.

“I’m very happy for Cole because I have really enjoyed seeing him playing with this dynamism, with this freedom, with this responsibility, helping the team, feeling important, and we need that for the team,” Alonso, 44, said.

“If Cole feels this way, we’ll have a better team, a better Chelsea.”

Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa – a former Liverpool and Spain teammate of Alonso who was also making his Premier League debut as a manager – said his side had made the challenge of facing Chelsea all the more difficult by conceding so early.

But he praised his players for sticking to his plan for an energetic, high-pressure approach, which could have been rewarded with another equaliser to make it 3-3 had Antonee Robinson kept his lob over goalkeeper Robert Sanchez on target.

“My players did what they had to do,” Arbeloa, 43, said. “I can’t be happy because we lost this game. We wanted to win for our fans. But I think this is the way that we have to play... We’re going to play in this way... no matter who is in front of us.”

In other football news, City have agreed a deal worth up to £34.2 million (S$59.2 million) to sign Palmeiras winger Allan Elias, the British media reported on Aug 24.

According to BBC and Sky Sports reports, they will pay an initial £32 million for the 22-year-old Brazilian, with a further £2 million in potential add-ons.

Allan, who also plays as an attacking midfielder, joined the Brasileiro Serie A side’s youth set-up in 2019 and made his senior debut in January 2025.

He is set to replace fellow Brazilian Savinho, who has sealed a move from City to Tottenham Hotspur.

The north London club have signed the winger, also 22, in a deal which takes their close-season spending above £300 million under manager Roberto de Zerbi, having just escaped relegation last term.

Both clubs confirmed the transfer on Aug 25 but the financial details and length of contract were not disclosed. British media last week reported that the deal was worth £75 million and included a further £10 million in add-ons.

“(Savinho) is a player who brings energy, imagination and quality in wide positions,” de Zerbi said in a statement.

“He has the courage to attack defenders and the ability to change a game with his creativity.

“We’re very pleased to have him with us, and I’m looking forward to working with him, helping him continue to grow and seeing him bring his personality to the team.” REUTERS