Xabi Alonso’s days at Chelsea could not have begun more dramatically. Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and João Pedro did most of the damage as the Blues opened the new Premier League season at Craven Cottage with an entertaining 3-2 win against Fulham.
The new-look attack was highly entertaining, but the afternoon also raised questions about Enzo Fernandez, who spent the first 45 minutes on the bench while transfer rumours continued to swirl.
The Spaniard was impressed by his side’s attacking prowess, as Chelsea consistently threatened in transition. The front three of João Pedro, Palmer and Rogers created plenty of problems for the Fulham defence throughout the game.
The win was anything but easy, though. Chelsea had to deal with Fulham’s pressure and fight hard to maintain their advantage before finally securing all three points.
However, Alonso’s victory was a positive start to a new chapter at Stamford Bridge.
João Pedro wasted no time finding the opening goal after the game began, putting the visitors ahead and immediately setting the tone for an exciting London derby. His strike gave Chelsea an early boost and added another memorable moment to his growing profile.
Josh King restored the balance for Fulham, scoring to make it 1-1.
But Chelsea remained dangerous in attack and continued to create opportunities.
The £117 million signing made his competitive debut for Chelsea this summer and marked the occasion with a goal in the 41st minute. Cole Palmer and new defender Maxence Lacroix were involved in the move before Rogers finished the opportunity to put Chelsea back in front.
It was exactly the kind of debut Chelsea fans had been hoping to see from the club’s major signing.
Rogers looked comfortable in Alonso’s attacking system and showed why Chelsea invested so heavily in him. His partnership with Palmer and João Pedro could become one of the most exciting attacking combinations to watch in the Premier League.
The England international looked healthier and closer to his best against Fulham after a difficult previous season affected by injuries. He went on to convert his opportunity shortly after half-time and continued to play an important role in Chelsea’s dangerous attacking moves.
With Palmer alongside João Pedro and Rogers, Chelsea now have a forward line capable of causing problems for almost any Premier League defence.
Alonso will now be hoping the trio can maintain that level of performance throughout the season.
The Argentina international began the match on the bench, with uncertainty surrounding his future and transfer rumours continuing to circulate. Manchester City have reportedly shown interest in the midfielder, while Chelsea continue to place a high value on their record signing.
Fernandez eventually came onto the pitch, but his arrival was met with a hostile reception from some Fulham supporters.
Alonso has previously made it clear that Fernandez remains a Chelsea player, but leaving him out of the starting XI will inevitably continue the debate surrounding his future.
The midfielder now faces a crucial period as he attempts to establish exactly where he fits into Alonso’s plans.
Chelsea had problems defending at times, while Robert Sánchez was involved in mistakes that contributed to Fulham’s goals. The Blues ultimately kept their composure and secured the victory, but it was clear that Alonso still has plenty of work to do defensively.
Against tougher competition, that could become a major factor.
Chelsea cannot rely on their attacking players to rescue them in every game. Alonso will need to bring greater consistency to the defence if Chelsea are serious about challenging for a place in the top four.
The attacking football was quick, direct and entertaining. João Pedro, Palmer and Rogers looked promising as a front three, while Chelsea’s new signings also showed flashes of their potential.
However, there are clear issues that still need to be addressed.
Chelsea conceded twice, their goalkeeper endured a difficult afternoon and the uncertainty surrounding Fernandez remains another storyline Alonso will have to manage.
If Morgan Rogers continues his impressive debut performance, he could become one of the signings of the season. Palmer appears capable of returning to his best form, while João Pedro has already provided Chelsea with the attacking threat they were looking for.
The bigger challenge will be turning that attacking promise into consistent performances.
For now, Alonso can take plenty of encouragement from his first Premier League victory. Chelsea have a high-powered attack and plenty of positives to build on, even though the questions surrounding Fernandez and the defence remain unresolved.
The victory gives Alonso an encouraging head start at Stamford Bridge.
For Fernandez, however, the new Chelsea era begins with a very different question: where does he fit into Xabi Alonso’s plans?
That storyline could prove almost as significant as Chelsea’s performances as the 2026-27 season unfolds.
The new-look attack was highly entertaining, but the afternoon also raised questions about Enzo Fernandez, who spent the first 45 minutes on the bench while transfer rumours continued to swirl.
Xabi Alonso Makes Winning Start at Chelsea
Alonso left his first Premier League game as Chelsea’s new manager with a big smile on his face.The Spaniard was impressed by his side’s attacking prowess, as Chelsea consistently threatened in transition. The front three of João Pedro, Palmer and Rogers created plenty of problems for the Fulham defence throughout the game.
The win was anything but easy, though. Chelsea had to deal with Fulham’s pressure and fight hard to maintain their advantage before finally securing all three points.
However, Alonso’s victory was a positive start to a new chapter at Stamford Bridge.
João Pedro Makes a Lightning-Fast Start
Chelsea needed just 31 seconds to take the advantage.João Pedro wasted no time finding the opening goal after the game began, putting the visitors ahead and immediately setting the tone for an exciting London derby. His strike gave Chelsea an early boost and added another memorable moment to his growing profile.
Josh King restored the balance for Fulham, scoring to make it 1-1.
But Chelsea remained dangerous in attack and continued to create opportunities.
Morgan Rogers Announces Himself on Chelsea Debut
Morgan Rogers was arguably the biggest individual story of the afternoon.The £117 million signing made his competitive debut for Chelsea this summer and marked the occasion with a goal in the 41st minute. Cole Palmer and new defender Maxence Lacroix were involved in the move before Rogers finished the opportunity to put Chelsea back in front.
It was exactly the kind of debut Chelsea fans had been hoping to see from the club’s major signing.
Rogers looked comfortable in Alonso’s attacking system and showed why Chelsea invested so heavily in him. His partnership with Palmer and João Pedro could become one of the most exciting attacking combinations to watch in the Premier League.
Cole Palmer Returns to His Winning Ways
Palmer also delivered a promising performance.The England international looked healthier and closer to his best against Fulham after a difficult previous season affected by injuries. He went on to convert his opportunity shortly after half-time and continued to play an important role in Chelsea’s dangerous attacking moves.
With Palmer alongside João Pedro and Rogers, Chelsea now have a forward line capable of causing problems for almost any Premier League defence.
Alonso will now be hoping the trio can maintain that level of performance throughout the season.
Enzo Fernandez Future Raises Questions
Away from Chelsea’s attacking display, Enzo Fernandez was another major talking point.The Argentina international began the match on the bench, with uncertainty surrounding his future and transfer rumours continuing to circulate. Manchester City have reportedly shown interest in the midfielder, while Chelsea continue to place a high value on their record signing.
Fernandez eventually came onto the pitch, but his arrival was met with a hostile reception from some Fulham supporters.
Alonso has previously made it clear that Fernandez remains a Chelsea player, but leaving him out of the starting XI will inevitably continue the debate surrounding his future.
The midfielder now faces a crucial period as he attempts to establish exactly where he fits into Alonso’s plans.
Chelsea’s Defence Still Needs Work
The attacking positives were not completely matched by Chelsea’s defensive performance, which raised a few familiar concerns.Chelsea had problems defending at times, while Robert Sánchez was involved in mistakes that contributed to Fulham’s goals. The Blues ultimately kept their composure and secured the victory, but it was clear that Alonso still has plenty of work to do defensively.
Against tougher competition, that could become a major factor.
Chelsea cannot rely on their attacking players to rescue them in every game. Alonso will need to bring greater consistency to the defence if Chelsea are serious about challenging for a place in the top four.
What the Fulham Win Means for Chelsea
The 3-2 victory was important for Chelsea because it delivered three vital points and, more importantly, provided an early glimpse of what Alonso wants his team to become.The attacking football was quick, direct and entertaining. João Pedro, Palmer and Rogers looked promising as a front three, while Chelsea’s new signings also showed flashes of their potential.
However, there are clear issues that still need to be addressed.
Chelsea conceded twice, their goalkeeper endured a difficult afternoon and the uncertainty surrounding Fernandez remains another storyline Alonso will have to manage.
Can Xabi Alonso Take Chelsea to the Next Level?
After just one Premier League match, it is too early to make major predictions. However, there were plenty of reasons for Chelsea fans to feel excited after the opening game of the season.If Morgan Rogers continues his impressive debut performance, he could become one of the signings of the season. Palmer appears capable of returning to his best form, while João Pedro has already provided Chelsea with the attacking threat they were looking for.
The bigger challenge will be turning that attacking promise into consistent performances.
For now, Alonso can take plenty of encouragement from his first Premier League victory. Chelsea have a high-powered attack and plenty of positives to build on, even though the questions surrounding Fernandez and the defence remain unresolved.
Final Thoughts
Chelsea’s 3-2 victory over Fulham was far from perfect but certainly entertaining. Morgan Rogers made an immediate impact, Cole Palmer looked dangerous once again and João Pedro continued to demonstrate his attacking quality.The victory gives Alonso an encouraging head start at Stamford Bridge.
For Fernandez, however, the new Chelsea era begins with a very different question: where does he fit into Xabi Alonso’s plans?
That storyline could prove almost as significant as Chelsea’s performances as the 2026-27 season unfolds.