Palmer’s ‘Magic Man’ Role Reveals Alonso’s Chelsea Blueprint

Xabi Alonso is already making it clear who this Chelsea team is being built around – and frankly, Palmer as the central creative reference point is exactly what we’ve been hoping for.

football.london have reported five things spotted in Chelsea training at Cobham this week, with senior sports journalist Jake Stokes detailing Xabi Alonso’s early tactical work ahead of the pre-season tour of Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia. The standout detail is the special role Alonso has handed Cole Palmer – and it tells you a lot about how Alonso intends to set this team up.

We already knew Alonso’s ambitions when he signed his long-term contract – building the right culture and winning trophies. What’s emerging at Cobham suggests he has a very clear tactical picture to go with those ambitions.

Alonso working one-on-one with Pedro – and that’s a good sign

With the bulk of the squad yet to return from their post-World Cup breaks, Alonso has used the quieter period to work closely with João Pedro. The 24-year-old missed out on Brazil’s World Cup squad under Carlo Ancelotti, which was a bitter blow, but it has given him extra time to embed himself in Alonso’s methods before the rest of the group arrives.

Alonso was spotted giving instructions during a drill while standing directly next to Pedro – the Brazilian reportedly looking deep in thought. If we’re to push for the Champions League this season, we need Pedro firing. Early signs suggest Alonso knows that too.

Palestra catching the eye – the wing-back role could suit him perfectly

Marco Palestra has made an immediate impression, showcasing his physicality, one-versus-one defending, and quality in front of goal. Under Alonso’s expected back-three system, wing-backs are given the licence to bomb forward and contribute in the final third.

Frankly, Palestra could be one of the more interesting stories of pre-season. If Alonso gives him that freedom, we could be looking at a wing-back with a genuine end product – and that would be a welcome upgrade on what we’ve had in previous campaigns.

Estevao back in full training – the injury scare appears to have passed

Estevao Willian has been at the heart of the action at Cobham, which is a significant relief. The teenager suffered a grade-four hamstring injury during the defeat to Manchester United back in April, and there were genuine fears he could require surgery and miss the start of the season.

He’s not only avoided surgery – he appears to have overcome the muscle problem. Getting Estevao fit and sharp for the opening weeks could be crucial to how quickly Alonso’s system clicks.

Delap nursing a minor knee problem – but not letting it stop him

Liam Delap was spotted with bandaging and strapping on his right knee during training sessions this week. It appears to be a minor issue rather than anything serious – he was still getting fully stuck in – but it’s worth monitoring given how important he’ll be up top.