Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso's Chelsea have started off the 2026/27 season with a bang(Image: Robin Jones)
View 3 Images
There is no question about it: Chelsea supporters have taken to Xabi Alonso. If it wasn't clear beforehand, the build-up to Sunday afternoon's 4-3 win over Brighton spoke volumes.
In the Shed End, just to the side of the travelling Seagulls supporters, was a banner that read: 'Not Too Xabi: Alonso Is A Blue'. It is rather unusual for the Chelsea fan base to be so undivided when it comes to a manager, or a head coach, especially in BlueCo's tenure.
Graham Potter always faced an uphill challenge in winning the supporters over. Mauricio Pochettino, likewise, given his Tottenham connection and the underwhelming football on the pitch. Enzo Maresca got as close as anyone but there was still division - ironically, the Chelsea supporters now all seem to share the same view when it comes to the Manchester City head coach. Liam Rosenior, unfortunately, seemed doomed from the very start - and so it proved.
FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Something just feels different with Alonso. His Real Madrid tenure didn't go well yet there's an acceptance that it's a bit of a madhouse at the Santiago Bernabeu. His reputation, largely from his unprecedented success at Bayer Leverkusen, remained intact. Now, it's on the rise again.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Alonso is adored by the Chelsea supporters, who chanted his name at different times during Sunday's seven-goal thriller with Brighton. Why wouldn't they adore him? His football is everything Chelsea have been missing.
Where will Chelsea finish this season?
Top fourTop sixIn the bottom half
Gone are the days of pass, pass, pass; all in a, at times, feeble attempt to tire the opposition. Alonso's counter-attacking, direct football is a joy to watch. A breath of fresh air in a Premier League that has been accused of becoming too boring with all of the micro-management involved nowadays.
Chelsea recorded just 25.6% possession - and 146 successful passes - versus Brighton, which is their lowest figures on record (from 2003/04 onwards) in a Premier League match. Against Fulham six days prior, the Blues registered 38.1% of the ball. Yet Chelsea look as if they will score with every attack.
Alonso isn't interested in such data - he made that abundantly clear post-match : "You need to have context to every data for sure. After 30 minutes, we have scored [to make it] 3-0, probably in that moment we have played too much with the result instead of keep playing.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
"So the data is not important, it is how you play and what we can do better. But it is never that approach, I don't say today we need to have 60% or 20%. I never talk about those things, it is about how to prepare, how to be more competitive.
"But the good thing is that you need to adapt, even during the game there are difficult moments and some moments that we have done really, really well and other moments that we can do better."
One could argue more possession would allow Chelsea more control because there were times in the win over Brighton where the hosts could needed a bit of calmness and composure on the ball to ease the nerves. There was a point in the second-half, moments after Joao Pedro scored an own goal to make it 3-2, where the Seagulls were hammering at the hosts' door.
Alonso could feel the tide turning and that is why he was looking to make three changes. He turned to his bench to bring Reece James, Josh Acheampong and Moises Caicedo on to help Chelsea gain control again. The trio weren't ready to enter the pitch as quickly as Alonso wanted and the Blues manager, who is usually such a calm and collected figure, lost his cool and furiously shouted for them to hurry up.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
They did just that and it wasn't too long before they were introduced. Predictably, James, Acheampong and Caicedo did help Chelsea swing the game back in their favour and it was soon 4-2 to the home side via an incredible Cole Palmer goal.
It was typical of Palmer to produce such magic when his team needed it the most. It was also typical of the 24-year-old to light the game up when he had been in the shadows for most of it. Palmer was very quiet up until he wasn't, with England manager Thomas Tuchel watching on at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer celebrates
Cole Palmer scored for Chelsea against Brighton(Image: Mike Hewitt)
View 3 Images
Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti was also in attendance as Joao Pedro shone once again for the Blues. Ancelotti must surely be kicking himself that he didn't select Chelsea's No.9 for the World Cup over the summer; a decision that becomes more and more baffling with every goal the 24-year-old scores for the west Londoners.
Completing the attacking trio everyone is in awe of right now, Morgan Rogers once again showcased his significance to Alonso's Chelsea setup. There were more than a few raised eyebrows when the Blues splashed £117million on the England international but not too many have mentioned his price tag in recent days.
Chelsea look dangerous from all areas. Even at right wing-back on Sunday, with Pedro Neto one of the standout performers for the Blues. After the Portugal international doubled the hosts' lead in the first-half, he smacked the Chelsea badge on his shirt repeatedly in his celebration, hinting he might be staying put after all.
football.london understands Chelsea are not actively looking to sell Neto, though the west Londoners would listen to offers in the region of £100m. Neto has plenty of potential suitors from the Premier League and abroad but time is running out for the winger to depart. Alonso was asked directly after the game whether he could guarantee the 26-year-old is a part of his squad for the remainder of the campaign.
Pedro Neto celebrates with his Chelsea team-mates
Pedro Neto celebrates putting Chelsea two goals ahead against Brighton(Image: Bryn Lennon)
View 3 Images
"No, in football I don't guarantee anything, not anyone," said a frank Alonso. "But I was very happy with Pedro. He did really well, he played with a lot of energy. He is going to be very important for the team for the whole season because he has different special qualities.
"He is a threat one-v-one, he attacks very well in the space, he is strong, he is competitive. I am happy that he scored, he was really close to scoring another one. I am very happy with Pedro."
Perhaps Alonso was all-but-confirming Neto will be remaining at Stamford Bridge with the "very important for the team for the whole season" remark. Neto is certainly not a bad player to have around the squad; particularly because his skillset seems to suit the wing-back role perfectly.
It depends, though, because Chelsea don't think Neto is irreplaceable and would consider a decent offer for the Portuguese wide man.
Elsewhere, there was no Enzo Fernandez yet again. At this point, though, it would be more of a shock if the wantaway Argentine was named in the squad. It is quite obvious why he isn't being picked even if Alonso won't say it.
Unfortunately for Alonso and Chelsea, this Fernandez saga, typically, looks to be going right down to the wire. One way or another, they will have an answer by Tuesday, 11pm.