Chelsea finish their 2026 pre-season on Saturday afternoon against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge, but will Enzo Fernandez feature for Xabi Alonso?
Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez faces an uncertain future at Chelsea(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar)
View 4 Images
Xabi Alonso will make his Stamford Bridge debut as Chelsea manager on Saturday afternoon as the Blues welcome one of the Spaniard's former clubs Real Sociedad to west London.
After a gruelling pre-season tour, where Chelsea flew to four countries, they have spent the past few days back at the club's Cobham training centre as they continue their preparations for the beginning of the new campaign. Alonso welcomed new signings Maxence Lacroix, Valentin Barco, Jordan Henderson, Pep Chavarria and Morgan Rogers to the group in the Surrey sunshine and will be hoping as many of them as possible will feature at the weekend.
So, with that being said, football.london takes a look at the 'dream' line-up Alonso could field at Stamford Bridge.
FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Goalkeeper
Tough one, this. Robert Sanchez seems the likely goalkeeper from the start against Fulham on August 24, but Alonso might want to have more of a look at Mike Penders. Perhaps it will be a case of 45 minutes each for his two goalkeeper options on Saturday afternoon.
Defence
If Alonso goes with a 4-2-3-1 - the formation we have seen from the Spaniard for the majority of his first pre-season as Chelsea manager - then Reece James could return on the right-hand side of defence. James and Malo Gusto both returned to training earlier in the week after being allowed an extended break due to their World Cup commitments with England and France respectively.
In the centre of defence, surely we will see Lacroix from the start following his £52million move from Crystal Palace earlier in the summer. The prospect of Lacroix alongside Levi Colwill is an exciting one - and we could see the debut of a very successful central defensive partnership at the weekend.
Maxence Lacroix
Chelsea's new centre-back Maxence Lacroix(Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
View 4 Images
Chavarria could also get a run out on Saturday. The Spaniard and Jorrel Hato will fight it out for the left-back position in the upcoming season. Given how much supporters love new signings, those inside Stamford Bridge will be keen on seeing Chavarria at some point.
Midfield
Alonso might want as close to the team that faces Fulham from the start as possible on the pitch at the weekend. If that is the case, Moises Caicedo will start but will be joined, perhaps, by a new midfield partner. Barco and Henderson, two new signings, will be hoping for some minutes in the capital.
Given Henderson's serious arm injury he suffered earlier this summer, Alonso might be reluctant to throw the England international straight in. We do not even know for certain whether the 36-year-old, signed on a free transfer, is fit enough to play but judging by the training pictures released earlier this week, where Henderson was taking part in a match-type situation at Cobham, he could play some part.
Jordan Henderson signs for Chelsea
Jordan Henderson has signed for Chelsea(Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC)
View 4 Images
Enzo Fernandez, who returned to training earlier this week, could be given the nod in the No.10 role. Chelsea have set Manchester City a deadline of 5pm today (Friday) to match his £120m valuation. If not, the Argentina international, sources insist, will be playing his football in west London for the upcoming season.
On the wings, we could see best friends Rogers and Cole Palmer on either flank. Rogers could be used on the left-hand side as he looks to build his fitness ahead of the trip to Fulham, while Palmer could be experimented on the right. Estevao Willian, Pedro Neto, Geovany Quenda, Mykhailo Mudryk and Jamie Gittens are also pushing for starts.
Attack
While Danny Welbeck was brought in for a minimal fee from Brighton, there is no doubting Alonso's go-to in the middle of attack will be Joao Pedro. The Brazilian has enjoyed a fantastic pre-season thus far and Alonso will be keen to get even more out of him when La Real come to town.
Joao Pedro
Joao Pedro has shown some fantastic form for Chelsea in pre-season(Image: Qin Zhicheng/VCG)
View 4 Images
Emmanuel Emegha has been in training this week after he missed the pre-season tour due to a hamstring injury. Liam Delap continues to be linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, while Nicolas Jackson also faces an uncertain future.
Dream Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Lacroix, Colwill, Chavarria; Caicedo, Barco; Palmer, Fernandez, Rogers; Joao Pedro