Morgan Rogers scored on his debut and Enzo Fernandez received a mixed reception from the Chelsea support as Xabi Alonso won his first match at Stamford Bridge, a 3-1 victory against Real Sociedad.
Rogers, signed for £117million from Aston Villa this summer, opened the scoring from close range in Chelsea’s final pre-season friendly and Joao Pedro scored twice in the second half, while Jon Aramburu was on the scoresheet for the visitors.
On Wednesday Chelsea had imposed a deadline for Manchester City — or any club — to lodge a £120million offer for Fernandez before 5pm (11am ET) on Friday, but they received no bids.
The Argentina international was booed by some Chelsea fans when his name was read out and when he was brought on in the second half, but there were more supporters chanting his name.
Simon Johnson analyses the key talking points from Stamford Bridge…
How did £117m Rogers do on his Chelsea debut?
When you cost a club and British transfer record, you want to get off to a good start. Even in a pre-season friendly.
That is exactly what happened for Morgan Rogers for Chelsea this afternoon, getting his first goal at Stamford Bridge in his first appearance.
Sure it was just a tap-in after Alex Remiro had got a hand to Joao Pedro’s fine header. But right time, right place and all that.
Rogers tucks the ball home from within the six-yard box (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
For the first half of the first half, he showed why Chelsea have spent £117million on him. Rogers outshone fellow No 10 Cole Palmer, causing Real Sociedad a few problems from the left pocket.
As the half wore on, some rust and lack of sharpness crept in. It is understandable. Rogers only began training with his new team for the first time on Tuesday having been given an extended holiday post World Cup.
Despite this, Rogers came out for the second half too and within minutes sent in a delightful cross, this time from the right, which no team-mate was ready for at the back post.
The England international came off just after the hour mark, a very useful run-out to get some much needed minutes into his legs. There is a lot more to come from Rogers, but this was a good way to begin winning over the crowd.
How did Stamford Bridge react to Enzo Fernandez?
Opinion is clearly divided among Chelsea fans about what they think of Enzo Fernandez and his future at the club.
It has been uncertain for months having flirted near the end of last season with a move to Real Madrid, while the last few days have been dominated by talk of a move to Manchester City.
The latter failed to meet Chelsea’s deadline to make an official £120m bid on Friday, but there is a suspicion that the saga is not over yet.
Unlike Rogers and Lacroix, two other players to begin pre-season training on Tuesday following a World Cup holiday, Fernandez was named on the bench.
His name was booed by a section of supporters when it was first read out pre-match. When he came on after the break, those jeers were even louder. However, there were more in the ground that chanted his name. It is a sign of how he splits opinion.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
What Alonso thinks of Fernandez’s situation we do not know. He did not do any media pre or post match, so was able to avoid any awkward questions… for now at least.
Still, the 25-year-old was involved. That is more than you can say for a number or senior players who did not even make the squad.
Jordan Henderson was not a shock given the wrist injury he suffered at the World Cup and only started training four days ago. Another summer acquisition Danny Welbeck was also absent but he clearly is part of Alonso’s plans. Emmanuel Emegha sat out the pre-season tour due to a hamstring problem.
But the lack of Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap, Tosin, Mykhailo Mudryk and Mamadou Sarr are all strong indicators that they will be gone before the transfer deadline, either permanently or on loan.
Regular readers of The Athletic’s Transfer DealSheet will know that Jackson and Delap are for sale at £65m and £50m respectively. Sarr and Mudryk are available on loan and it emerged this week that Tosin is subject of interest from a lot of clubs.
Chelsea need to cut down the size of the squad. With no European football on offer, the chance to rotate is even more reduced.
Despite all these players not being involved this afternoon, Alonso still picked a 24-man squad. It emphasises how they have too many players in the ranks right now.
Is this the system and XI that Alonso will use against Fulham?
With nine days to go before Chelsea’s opening Premier League game at Fulham, this was perhaps the best indication yet of what Alonso has in mind for the match at Craven Cottage.
For the third straight friendly, Chelsea’s new manager played with three at the back. On this occasion he put summer signing Maxence Lacroix in the middle of the backline for the first time, with Levi Colwill to the left and Wesley Fofana to the right.
That looks like being the first choice as a three, with captain Reece James pushed into midfield, albeit should Enzo Fernandez stay at the club, a decision will then have to be made about who operates next to Moises Caicedo. The Argentina international replaced James in the second half.
James played in central midfield on Saturday (Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images)
Perhaps one question mark is Pedro Neto playing at wing-back. He has been left off the ‘not for sale’ list. Yet Alonso appears to like him, picking him for the friendly win over AC Milan and now here against Real Sociedad. Marco Palestra, operating on the left flank, looks nailed on to be in the first XI on either wing.
The attacking positions look set in stone, with Rogers and Palmer playing behind Joao Pedro. It is still a work in progress but there is plenty of time at the training ground to sharpen things up.
When are Chelsea playing next?
Alonso’s side kick-off their Premier League campaign on Monday August 24 away to west-London rivals Fulham.
They are coached by Alvaro Arbeloa, Alonso’s old Liverpool, Real Madrid and Spain team-mate and the man who took over from Alonso when he left Real Madrid in the middle of last season.
