Xabi Alonso claimed his first win at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea manager, wrapping up the club’s pre-season programme with a hard-earned 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad. Although the display offered plenty of tactical interest, the mood during the afternoon was partly dominated by a divided reaction from the home supporters towards Enzo Fernandez.
Alonso seems to have settled on the tactical framework he wants to use for the new campaign, setting Chelsea up in a 3-4-3 shape for the third match in a row. It is the same system that brought him huge success during his historic Bundesliga title-winning spell with Bayer Leverkusen, and its continued use at Chelsea points to a lasting move away from the 4-2-3-1 formation seen earlier in the summer.
The system also gave new arrivals Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix the chance to make their debuts. Rogers, who joined for £117 million, made an immediate impression by scoring inside the opening 10 minutes. Even so, Chelsea’s first-half performance had its shortcomings. The Blues found it difficult to sustain a consistent press, frequently dropping too deep and allowing the Spanish side to control the rhythm of the game - a weakness that proved costly when Jon Mikel Aramburu levelled matters just before half-time with a volley from the edge of the area.
In spite of those first-half issues, Chelsea returned after the interval with greater intensity and intent. Joao Pedro, who has been the standout player of the summer for the West London club, put them back in front only two minutes into the second half. The Brazilian forward climbed above everyone to meet an accurate delivery from captain Reece James and headed home to the delight of the Stamford Bridge crowd.
Joao Pedro was not done there, though, and struck again late on to take his pre-season total to an impressive seven goals. His composed finish in the 77th minute effectively ended the contest and ensured Chelsea went into the new season with a win.
The biggest talking point of the afternoon came in the 62nd minute, when Fernandez came on as a substitute. The Argentina midfielder was met with a mixture of boos and cheers, creating a strange atmosphere in the wake of recent transfer rumours linking him with a move to Manchester City.
The international backdrop also appeared to influence the cool reception, given Fernandez’s role in Argentina’s controversial World Cup celebrations, which struck a nerve in England. However, as the game went on, the audible disapproval gradually eased and was replaced by the more familiar chants of the midfielder’s name.
Looking ahead, the win against Real Sociedad brought Chelsea’s uneven pre-season campaign to a suitable close. The Blues began their summer schedule with an entertaining 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers, before suffering successive defeats of 2-1 and 1-0 against Tottenham and Juventus. They then responded with an impressive 3-0 win over AC Milan, along with an exciting 3-3 draw against Johor Darul Ta'zim, before finishing with this result at Stamford Bridge.
Focus now shifts to competitive football, with Chelsea due to begin their Premier League season away at Fulham on August 24. Under new boss Alonso, the Blues will be determined to start strongly and mount a significant revival, with the aim of putting behind them the disappointment of last season’s frustrating 10th-place finish.
