CHELSEA kicked off their Premier League campaign and the Xabi Alonso era with a 3-2 win at neighbours Fulham.
The exciting trio of Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers were all on display – and all firing.
Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer are arguably the best front three in the Premier League Credit: Getty
Xabi Alonso got off to a winning start as Blues boss Credit: Getty
But Robert Sanchez’s blunders cost the Blues two goals at the other end.
JattvibeSport Chelsea reporter Lloyd Canfield gives his three talking points from Craven Cottage…
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CURSE CANCELLED
Chelsea have grown from last season, it seems.
Last season they would have thrown this away and bottled it with a red card in the second half.
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They’ve spent money, they’ve got new players, a new manager, a new system, and it seems like things are different this season.
One of those things that has changed is this supposed No9 curse at Stamford Bridge, and Joao Pedro is the man who is putting an end to that.
His opening goal inside 31 seconds was absolutely sublime, and his assist for Cole Palmer was just as good, just as full of quality.
He showed the type of player he is, the type of complete striker he has become since moving to Chelsea.
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Joao Pedro broke the No9 curse within 31 seconds Credit: Getty
And there is clearly no more curse, because he is the one who breaks the spell.
REPLACE ROB & TRUST JOSH
One thing they do need to sort out is Robert Sanchez in goal.
This was a really disappointing display.
Emiliano Martinez is out there – Aston Villa have signed Zion Suzuki. Pay the money!
If you want to be a serious team this season and compete for the title, Chelsea need to get rid of Sanchez and need to sign a serious top-class goalkeeper.
One player who looked like he could compete in this division is Josh Acheampong.
He hasn’t been given too many minutes since he broke through from the Chelsea Cobham academy system – or CNG as it’s now called.
He was brilliant at Fulham.
Robert Sanchez made two key errors leading to goals Credit: AFP
Josh Acheampong put in a superb defensive display Credit: Getty
Among the three defenders, in terms of actually defending, Acheampong was the best of the three.
He’s still young, he can grow into this team, he can develop in this team.
He’s a brilliant young defender who wasn’t given the opportunity to play all that much last season, but I think he should be from now on.
NOT THE ENZ AFTER ALL?
And the last talking point: is there an Enzo Fernandez problem?
He was loudly booed by everyone inside Craven Cottage who wasn’t supporting Chelsea, but cheered by his own fans.
He was okay when he came on, he wasn’t exceptional.
But the reception showed that he can still be accepted at Stamford Bridge.
If he decides he wants to play for Chelsea, that future is still there for him.
Enzo Fernandez was supported by the Chelsea fans but will he stay or go? Credit: Getty
Romeo Lavia started in midfield with Reece James in Moises Caicedo’s absense Credit: Getty
What was interesting is that he was benched for Romeo Lavia in the absence of Moises Caicedo.
So it looks like, at this point, Caicedo, Lavia and Reece James are all ahead of him in the midfield pecking order.
That is somewhat concerning.
It’d be interesting to know Alonso’s reasoning – if it’s a personnel thing or if it’s a personal thing between Alonso and Fernandez.
It remains to be seen whether he’ll stay – if he wants to stay – or if that move to Manchester City will happen before the window concludes.
But Chelsea have grown.
A good game, a good win, three goals.
The most exciting front three in the Premier League, for my money, was on display, and it looks that way going into this season.
But they’ve got issues to fix if they want to be competing at the very top and show just how much they’ve grown.
Chelsea player ratings: Joao Pedro makes mockery of No9 curse as Sanchez shows new keeper needed after win over Fulham
Chelsea might be a little cold, after all.
Joao Pedro got Chelsea‘s season off to the perfect start after just 31 seconds with a delightful chip over Bernd Leno, having been set up by Cole Palmer in a 3-2 win at Craven Cottage.
But with the lead in their hands, Chelsea showed the same signals of distress that we saw under Enzo Maresca, Liam Rosenior and Calum McFarlane – a lack of discipline and too many silly mistakes.
Josh King bought the scores level with a powerful effort after 23 minutes, but Robert Sanchez should have done better to stop it.
With Chelsea in need of a goal before half-time to calm things down, enter stage left, Morgan Rogers.
Maxence Lacroix could have got a nose bleed with how high up the pitch he found himself, but instead weaved his way into the box and delivered the ball across the box for Rogers to finish.
With Pedro and Rogers on the scoresheet, it was time for Palmer to join in the action.
Pedro controlled the ball brilliantly and held it up just as well before laying the ball off to his teammate who slotted through Leno’s legs to give the Blues breathing room and wrap up the win despite another Fulham goal from Gonzalo Garcia.
Find out how JattvibeSport Chelsea reporter Lloyd Canfield rated the players here…
