Alonso wants Chelsea to know how to win ‘boring games’
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Xabi Alonso, Manager of Chelsea, celebrates after the team's victory in the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso addressed the helter-skelter nature of the Carabao Cup clash with Leeds United.
Chelsea were involved in a ding-dong of an affair, going 2-0 down at Stamford Bridge and requiring the quality of Cole Palmer with Morgan Rogers to take the game away from the Whites in a 6-3 win.
·‘We want to have better balance’
The Blues had already conceded seven goals across three Premier League fixtures (a 3-2 victory over Fulham, a 4-3 triumph over Brighton and a 2-1 loss against Arsenal) and this result takes the tally into double digits across all competitions. Fans will be excited to see entertaining football in West London, but more stability is needed to ensure too much pressure is not placed on the frontline.
There will also continue to be questions asked about the composition of the team’s midfield. Reggie Watson was drafted into the starting eleven as a 16-year-old next to Valentin Barco, while fullbacks Reece James and Malo Gusto and oft-injured Romeo Lavia have started in the engine room in the absence of Moises Caicedo. In many senses, this match reinforces what Alonso will already know.
“There are things, in terms of the connections of players and the associations, that I see are going to be important. We need to keep working on the good things and keep on improving other things. We want to have better balance, to be solid, to be able to win in a boring game as well, if that happens.
“But it's five games. For sure, we are now through [in the Carabao Cup ] and we have two Premier League games before the international break. They are fundamental. We want to finish well before the break, and we have two tough games against Hull City and Brentford ."
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 9: Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders celebrates with Valentin Barco of Chelsea during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 9, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 9: Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders celebrates with Valentin Barco of Chelsea during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 9, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)