Xabi Alonso Prepares for Chelsea's Clash with Tottenham
Xabi Alonso is already learning that at Chelsea, even pre-season carries a certain edge.
His second game in charge brings a meeting with Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham on Saturday morning, and while the fixture is officially a friendly, the context is anything but gentle. Alonso eased his way into the tour by starting without many of his headline names last time out, only unleashing them in a sweeping wave of substitutions with 25 minutes to play.
That late influx – Robert Sanchez, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Cole Palmer, Marco Palestra, Estevao, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro – changed the feel of the contest and hinted at the depth at his disposal. Now comes the more pointed question: does he roll out the stars from the first whistle against a Premier League rival?
Alonso weighs up his hand
All signs point towards a stronger XI.
Sanchez is in line to take over from Teddy Sharman-Lowe in goal, a natural step as the senior keeper sharpens up for the season ahead. In front of him, Colwill is pushing to start at centre-back, the minutes vital as he plays catch-up with his fitness after a disrupted spell.
The intrigue grows on the left side of defence. Summer arrival Marco Palestra is still waiting for his first start in royal blue and will feel this is the moment to step in. Yet Landon Emenalo has quietly impressed across the tour, earning Alonso’s trust and forcing a genuine decision at left-back.
Further forward, the narrative belongs to the youngsters making noise.
Reggie Watson lit up the game against Western Sydney, his direct running and fearlessness instantly connecting with the travelling support. Performances like that tend to earn another look, especially under a new head coach keen to establish an aggressive, front-foot identity. Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli made a similar impact off the bench and has pushed himself firmly into the conversation for a starting role.
Managing risk and reward
Romeo Lavia’s situation underlines the fine line Alonso must walk. The midfielder has been declared fit after missing the Western Sydney match with hamstring discomfort, yet his long history of fitness issues looms large. Alonso is not expected to gamble on him here, a cautious call that makes sense in July even when the temptation to accelerate plans is obvious.
In attack, the shape of Chelsea’s front line could shift again. Dastan Satpayev will hope to keep his place on the left, his work in the previous outing giving him credit in the bank. On the opposite flank, Palmer is poised to step in from the start, offering guile and end product from the right.
Between them, Reggie Walsh has done enough to retain his role as the No10, a position that will be central to how Alonso wants his side to knit attacks together. Ahead of him, Liam Delap is expected to step aside, with Joao Pedro likely to lead the line after his cameo from the bench last time out.
New signings wait, injuries linger
Not everyone is ready to join the show.
Maxence Lacroix will sit this one out despite Chelsea confirming his move from Crystal Palace on Thursday, the defender not yet available for selection. Morgan Rogers is also absent as he continues his post-World Cup break, delaying his integration into Alonso’s plans.
There are still fitness clouds too. The club is monitoring Jorrel Hato and Mamadou Sarr after both missed the Western Sydney match, their involvement against Spurs uncertain. Filip Jorgensen has already departed the tour to finalise a transfer, trimming the options at the back.
So Alonso stands at an early crossroads: lean into the promise of youth again, or turn to the established names to make a statement against De Zerbi’s Tottenham. For a manager only two games into his Chelsea tenure, these are the first, small selection calls that begin to define an era.
