Xabi Alonso explains why Chelsea needed an update rather than a reset
Xabi Alonso explains why Chelsea needed an update rather than a reset
The Blues led 2-0 after just two minutes and 29 seconds of Saturday’s 5-1 win over Bournemouth and scored their third goal of the game a mere 29 seconds after the interval.
It was by no means the first time Chelsea had scored so early in a game and also quickly after half-time under Alonso this season.
In their opening game of the campaign against west London rivals Fulham, they led through Joao Pedro’s effort after 31 seconds and scored their third goal just four minutes after the restart at Craven Cottage.
Chelsea have also scored in the fourth minute against Brighton, second minute against defending champions Arsenal, and seventh minute against Hull in Premier League games this season. Rogers was the scorer of those goals against both Arsenal and Hull.
Alonso has been modest about his involvement in Chelsea’s super-fast starts, but the club’s record signing has made it clear that it is his manager who deserves the acclaim.
Rogers feels that Alonso’s team talks before matches and in the dressing room at half-time are getting the Chelsea players fired up.
Alonso had said after the Bournemouth win: “No credit to me”.
However, £117million summer signing Rogers, scorer of that quick-fire second goal on Saturday, said: “I put it down to the manager’s team talks.
“He gets us firing, gets us going. We always want to start off on the front foot. It is about starting well and getting the lead.”
Rogers continued: “A lot of games, especially at home, we have won after jumping on the back of early goals. It’s a good trait to have which we need to keep doing.”