Xabi Alonso's Chelsea Pre-Season Challenge Against Tottenham
Xabi Alonso is only two games into the Chelsea job, but the tone of his reign could sharpen quickly when his side meet Tottenham in Saturday’s pre-season friendly.
The new head coach eased his way into the tour by holding back several of his biggest names in the previous outing, then unleashing them in bulk with 25 minutes to play. Robert Sanchez, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Cole Palmer, Marco Palestra, Estevao, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro all arrived together, a reminder of the depth now at his disposal and of the standards he expects.
Against Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham, Alonso is unlikely to be so patient.
Stronger spine, stronger statement
This is his second match in charge of Chelsea and his first real chance to land a statement against Premier League opposition, even in the low-stakes world of pre-season. He knows it. The supporters know it. A stronger XI from the first whistle now feels inevitable.
Sanchez is in line to replace Teddy Sharman-Lowe in goal, restoring senior authority behind a defence that could finally start to resemble Alonso’s preferred structure. Colwill is pushing to come straight into the back line as he builds fitness at centre-back, a key role in any Alonso system. Fofana’s minutes will be managed carefully, but his presence in that late flurry last time out hinted at a gradual return to responsibility.
On the left, the picture is more nuanced. Summer signing Marco Palestra is waiting for his first start in royal blue, eager to move from cameo to command. Yet Landon Emenalo has forced his way into the conversation across this tour, and Alonso appears to have taken a real shine to the young full-back. Dropping him now would be a tough call.
New favourites and fresh auditions
Pre-season always throws up a surprise, a name that travels from obscurity to cult status in a single night. For Chelsea so far, that’s Reggie Watson.
His display against Western Sydney captured the away end and did not go unnoticed in the dugout. Watson has earned another look and this Tottenham game offers the perfect stage: higher level, sharper tempo, far more scrutiny. If he shines again, he moves from “tour story” to genuine squad option.
Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli also turned heads off the bench and is pushing hard for a start. Alonso has made it clear through his selections that performance, not reputation, will dictate minutes. Nicoll-Jazuli has given him something to think about.
Romeo Lavia, meanwhile, is fit again after missing the Western Sydney match with hamstring discomfort. Chelsea’s medical staff will tread carefully. His long-standing fitness issues mean Alonso is not expected to risk him here, no matter how tempting it might be to accelerate his integration.
Attacking reshuffle
Up front, the picture is beginning to settle.
Dastan Satpayev will hope to keep his place on the left flank after a lively showing, while Palmer is set to come in from the start on the right, where his creativity and calm in tight spaces can tilt games. Between them, Reggie Walsh has done enough to retain the No10 role, knitting attacks together and offering the kind of positional intelligence Alonso values.
The main change is likely to come at the tip of the attack. Liam Delap is expected to make way for Joao Pedro, who stepped off the bench in the previous match and now looks ready for a longer audition as the focal point. His movement and link play fit neatly with Alonso’s possession-heavy blueprint.
New signings wait their turn
Not everyone will be on show.
Maxence Lacroix, freshly signed from Crystal Palace and already a talking point among supporters, will not be involved despite Chelsea confirming his transfer on Thursday. The club will take their time bedding him in. The same goes for Morgan Rogers, who remains on post-World Cup holidays and will join up later.
There are also fitness doubts. It is still unclear whether Jorrel Hato or Mamadou Sarr will be ready after both missed the Western Sydney game, leaving Alonso to plan for Tottenham without knowing exactly what defensive cover he will have. Filip Jorgensen, meanwhile, has flown home to complete a transfer and will play no part.
So the stage is set: a new manager, a familiar rival, and a fanbase eager for clues about what this Chelsea side will become. Pre-season or not, how many chances like this will Alonso get to win hearts and sharpen edges at the same time?
