Chelsea’s final pre-season friendly may have offered the clearest indication yet of how Xabi Alonso plans to line up against Fulham.
The Blues begin their Premier League campaign at Craven Cottage on Monday 24 August, and several positions already appear close to settled.
But one huge question remains.
Does £120million-rated Enzo Fernandez actually start?
The Argentina international began Chelsea’s 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad on the bench and only entered after 62 minutes, replacing Reece James. That leaves Alonso with a fascinating midfield decision before his first competitive match of the season.
CHELSEA – Gary Mantle
“Guessing at a back 3, there will be rotation”
– Huge number of doubts getting back late from the World Cup
– Colwill starts if fit, if not Hato
– Estevao/Rogers/Welbeck all competing for one spot pic.twitter.com/whUNAKbmIj
— FPL Meerkat (@FPLMeerkat) August 14, 2026
Chelsea predicted XI vs Fulham
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill; Palestra, James, Caicedo, Neto; Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro.
Robert Sanchez remains the favourite to start in goal.
Ahead of him, Alonso is expected to continue building around a three-man defence. Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill both featured prominently during pre-season, while £52m summer arrival Maxence Lacroix was recruited with Alonso’s system firmly in mind.
Chelsea are simultaneously reducing the number of centre-backs available to the manager. Benoit Badiashile is heading towards Napoli, with ReadChelsea looking at how his medical accelerates Alonso’s defensive clearout.
£120m Enzo Fernandez decision could dominate Chelsea XI
Midfield provides the biggest debate.
Fernandez was not part of Alonso’s starting side against Real Sociedad despite the game representing Chelsea’s final dress rehearsal before Fulham.
Instead, James operated centrally alongside Moises Caicedo before Fernandez replaced the captain during the second half.
That could prove significant.
Manchester City continue to monitor Fernandez despite missing Chelsea’s previous deadline, while the Blues have maintained a valuation of around £120m.
However, there is also a purely tactical question.
Alonso’s preferred 3-4-2-1 requires his central midfielders to provide defensive control while allowing the two attacking midfielders freedom further forward. James and Caicedo offer considerable athleticism and defensive security in those deeper areas.
Fernandez possesses different strengths.
That leaves Alonso deciding whether to restore one of Chelsea’s biggest-name players or stick with the structure he tested immediately before the Premier League began.
Joao Pedro, Palmer and Rogers look difficult to leave out
The attacking picture appears much clearer.
Joao Pedro scored twice against Real Sociedad to finish pre-season with seven goals and should lead the line at Craven Cottage.
Morgan Rogers also scored on his first Stamford Bridge appearance following his £117m move from Aston Villa, while Cole Palmer remains Chelsea’s primary creative threat.
That trio gives Alonso an exciting potential front three.
Pedro Neto is likely to provide attacking width from wing-back, although Marco Palestra, Malo Gusto and James give Alonso several possible combinations on the opposite side.
Early projections from talkSPORT also have Chelsea using a back three against Fulham, with Palestra, Neto, Palmer, Rogers and Joao Pedro all included.
The exact personnel could still change during the final week of training.
But after Chelsea’s last pre-season test, the most intriguing selection no longer appears to be in attack.
It is whether Alonso believes his strongest Chelsea XI still contains Enzo Fernandez.
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