Xabi Alonso kicked off his Premier League tenure with a positive result, as Chelsea edged past Fulham with a 3-2 win. The goals came from Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers, and Cole Palmer.
In the aftermath of the game, Alonso hosted a press conference where he dissected the performance, explained his team selection, and rated their efforts:
What did you think of the match?
Of course, the feelings are very positive. You know how difficult it is to win any Premier League match, especially away from home. But we were ready for an intense game. I believe we played a very professional, solid, and mature match, responding well to various situations throughout the game.
We got ahead early and had several chances to score a second goal. After the opponent equalised, there were about ten minutes where we misjudged our pressing moments and positioning. However, we corrected that swiftly, and in the second half, we felt comfortable defensively, controlling the match.
I think we can build on this performance going forward. Certainly, there are things to improve, but it was a good start.
How concerning is Robert Sanchez's error for you?
It’s about the team, not just one player. As I mentioned, we can make some adjustments. In the lead-up to the first goal, we could have defended better and taken steps to prevent it, but that’s part of the game.
We must accept that and learn from it; it’s a process. All lines—attackers, midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers—we want to improve in all areas. Our aim was to start well, and we’ve managed to do that. Now, we need to keep pushing forward.
When did you realise Moises Caicedo wouldn’t be playing tonight?
During the week.
Why did you opt for Romeo Lavia over Enzo Fernandez in midfield?
We have different options. The players were at various stages of fitness during pre-season, so each one will play an important role.
This is a team effort; you can't rely solely on 14 players. We need 20 players to compete this season.
Is Liam Delap moving to Nottingham Forest?
For questions about transfers and personal situations, you need to ask someone else.
Xabi, the match appeared quite chaotic and frantic. Should we expect many such games this season and is that what you desire?
I think we can expect that in the Premier League. However, we could encounter completely different scenarios.
It’s vital to know what to do at various moments and to maintain control, including emotional control. That’s what makes the Premier League great; sometimes, the game just gets out of your control, and you can’t manage it entirely.
Therefore, players on the pitch must be aware of what to do and how to handle such situations. For me, that’s as crucial as the right tactics. It’s all part of the process.
Today, we had good spells regarding that aspect, and we need to continue working on it.
