Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP via Getty Images
It may only be pre-season, but Marco Palestra has been a bit of a surprise package at Chelsea so far.
Palestra starred in Chelsea’s 3-0 win against AC Milan on Saturday, helping the Blues to bounce back from back-to-back defeats to Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur.
While they did lose against Milan’s Serie A rivals, the defender still impressed that day. In fact, Palestra was perhaps Chelsea’s best player in the Juventus loss.
Yunus Musah of AC Milan competes for the ball against Joao Pedro and Marco Palestra of Chelsea FC
Photo by Peksi Cahyo/Getty Images
Xabi Alonso knew how versatile Marco Palestra was
Following Chelsea’s victory over Milan, Xabi Alonso has touched on Palestra’s versatility.
The 21-year-old started in the left wing-back position at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium as Alonso switched to a back three.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official club website after the full-time whistle, Alonso said: “He is having a great impact. He has a hunger and desire to improve and give his best, and in every game he is getting better and better.
“He played in a different position today, but I knew from his time in Italy he is very flexible and versatile in his game. We are happy he is having such a good adaptation [to life at Chelsea].”
Xabi Alonso on Marco Palestra
Credit: Andri Munazir/NurPhoto/Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Blues supporters could get the chance to see Palestra play again on Sunday when their side take on Johor Darul Ta’zim in the final game of this summer’s pre-season tour.
After that, Chelsea have one more friendly against Alonso’s former club Real Sociedad.
Marco Palestra displays versatility in AC Milan victory
For those who were not familiar with Palestra, they are now coming to understand the scope of his versatility, which was on full display against Milan.
In the previous match, Palestra had played as a right-back. But as already mentioned, he was used as a left wing-back in the Milan win.
The Italian is quite two-footed, which helps him to play down both flanks. Understandably, most of the attention has been on Morgan Rogers, Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson.
Rogers is one of the best attackers in the Premier League and cost Chelsea a club-record £117m fee. As for Welbeck and Henderson, being in their mid-30s, they were always going to be major talking points after joining the Club World Cup winners.
However, the spotlight could soon turn to Palestra if he continues to impress and show English football how versatile he is.