Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has praised the Stamford Bridge crowd for their support after his first home Premier League match concluded in a thrilling 4-3 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.
As the players took to the pitch, fans in the Shed End unveiled a welcoming banner for the Spanish coach:
Not too Xabi. Alonso is a Blue.
The team responded with a blistering start, with Romeo Lavia opening the scoring from a corner just four minutes in. Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro extended Chelsea's lead to a comfortable 3-0 by the 30-minute mark. However, the visitors clawed back into the game thanks to Malik Yaqub and an unfortunate own goal from Joao Pedro. Cole Palmer's strike restored Chelsea's two-goal cushion, but Pascal Gross kept things tense with a late goal for Brighton. Despite the nerves, Chelsea held on to secure the win, maintaining a perfect points record at the start of the season.
After the match, Alonso reflected on the special connection with the fans:
It was amazing. I’m very happy to be at Stamford Bridge and feel that energy and support. There will be great games, and there will be tough moments, but we must stick together.
Responding to questions about winning despite Brighton’s dominance in possession, the Chelsea boss emphasised the importance of context and adaptability in matches:
Any statistics need context. When it was 3-0 after 30 minutes, we started playing a bit too conservatively instead of sticking to our style. It’s about how we play and what we can improve. I never demand 60% or 20% possession. What matters is how we prepare and maximise our competitiveness. We must be able to adapt during the game.
