Perhaps there will come a time when Xabi Alonso has taught Chelsea how to master the art of game management. This is a team still to learn how to grind. Equally it is a team capable of hurting anyone, and although Alonso’s first outing as Chelsea’s manager featured plenty of terrible defending it also provided confirmation that life will never be dull with a front three of Cole Palmer, João Pedro and Morgan Rogers.
No wonder Maxence Lacroix wanted to join in the fun. The £52m centre‑back marked his debut with a thrilling assist, storming forward to make Rogers’s first goal since his £117m move from Aston Villa. João Pedro was no less effective as the No 9, while the biggest positive for Alonso had to be Palmer looking rested, dangerous and determined to prove a point after his injury woes last season led to him being left out of England’s World Cup squad.
