Chelsea faced Western Sydney Wanderers in their first official pre-season friendly of the summer, with Xabi Alonso naming 25 of his 28-man squad that had travelled to Australia.
The Spanish manager largely focused on youth against A-League side Wanderers, who endured a difficult 2025-26 season. Six academy stars, aside from senior player Josh Acheampong, were all in the starting XI.
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Chelsea player ratings vs Western Sydney Wanderers
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Reggie Watson, Reggie Walsh, Landon Emenalo, Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Tayo Subuloye started the game alongside Acheampong, Tosin, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Dastan Satpaev.
On the bench, Alonso named plenty of senior stars, including Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Levi Colwill and new signing Marco Palestra. Chelsea eventually went on to win 6-4, largely thanks to the big guns.
Joao Pedro scored a nine-minute hat-trick after coming on, with Satpaev and Essugo scoring in the first half. Jamie Gittens also nabbed himself a goal, but Jorrel Hato and Mamadou Sarr were both absent.
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Hato and Sarr absences explained ahead of friendly clash
After Chelsea had announced Alonso’s first-ever Chelsea XI, journalists immediately explained why Hato and Sarr had not been included among the substitutes despite a total of 14 players on the subs bench.
Jorrel Hato of Chelsea
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Bobby Vincent, among others, said that Hato and Sarr had not been included due to their World Cup exploits with the Netherlands and Senegal. While they have travelled, this game came too early for them.
He posted on X: “No Jorrel Hato or Mamadou Sarr in squad. Both players have only been training for a few days and are at different stages of their pre-season. The plan was for both to sit out of this game.”
Indeed, Hato and Sarr are playing catch-up compared to those who did not get a World Cup call-up. That saw Alonso decide against including the defensive duo in the Chelsea squad to face Western Sydney.
Mamadou Sarr of Senegal looks on
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Both Hato and Sarr were back-up options for their country at the World Cup, with the Netherlands and Senegal falling at the round of 32 stage. Hato played 35 minutes in one game, while Sarr did not play.
Why goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen was absent from Chelsea win
Jorgensen was among the 28 players to travel to Australia, yet Chelsea did not name the Danish stopper in their side. Sharman-Lowe started the game in goal, while Robert Sanchez and Ted Curd were subs.
It emerged during the game that Jorgensen has returned to the United Kingdom. Indeed, Kieran Gill reported that it is transfer-related, with several clubs vying to sign last season’s second-choice stopper.
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The goalkeeper has asked to leave Chelsea this summer after failing to get adequate game time last season. Fabrizio Romano then reported that Jorgensen is set to join Strasbourg after Gill’s update.
He said: “Understand Filip Jorgensen is on the verge of leaving Chelsea to join RC Strasbourg, agreement almost done. Details being sorted over salary conditions; Jorgensen left Chelsea pre-season camp.”
Mike Penders is also due to return from a loan spell, and the Belgian has been given hope of becoming Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper over Sanchez. Jorgensen’s absence hints at a possible departure soon.
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