Alonso learns two pivotal lessons in narrow Chelsea win

Xabi Alonso learns two pivotal lessons in narrow Chelsea win Make us your Google favourite The Xabi Alonso era at Chelsea started with an encouraging 3-2 win over Fulham on Monday night, with the club’s new-look front three of Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer all on the scoresheet. The Blues were scintillating in attack at Craven Cottage and with Palmer looking back to his electric best, there is significant optimism that Chelsea could potentially be Arsenal’s nearest challengers for the Premier League title this season. Chelsea have no European football to contend with this term, they have depth in most key areas on the pitch and a fully fit Palmer could be enough to fire them into a possible title race. Meanwhile, Pedro is one of the best strikers in world football, and their attacking quality was proven by the fact Estevao Willian, Geovany Quenda, Danny Welbeck and Jamie Gittens all had to settle for a place on the substitutes bench on Monday night. Transfer speculation surrounding Enzo Fernandez is an unhelpful distraction, but Chelsea may not be too negatively impacted by his departure if Alonso is able to keep Romeo Lavia fit, help Valentin Barco get up to speed in the Premier League and potentially sign Alex Scott. The Spaniard will have been encouraged by his side’s first competitive performance of the new season, and he will have learned two key transfer lessons ahead of Deadline Day on 1 September. Josh Acheampong deserves ‘untouchable’ status Josh Acheampong has been linked with a Chelsea exit in each of the past five transfer windows and he has once again been tipped to depart, either on loan or permanently, this summer. In fact, insider sources report that an exit still can’t be entirely ruled out before Transfer Deadline Day. However, it has been widely rumoured that Acheampong is one of several players that Chelsea view as “untouchable”, and he proved exactly why on Monday night. Palmer may have grabbed the headlines with an outstanding performance at Craven Cottage, but Acheampong was also incredibly impressive and he is ideally-suited to playing as the right-sided central defender in Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 system. The formation doesn’t particularly work well with Levi Colwill on the opposite side, given he is best in Maxence Lacroix’s position as the middle defender, but it suits Acheampong down to a tee and it’s therefore no surprise that he was excellent on the night. The England U21 international was calm in possession, he helped in attack with several underlapping runs, while his defensive work out wide was exemplary. All in all, it was a perfect example of why Chelsea simply can’t let him depart. Robert Sanchez isn’t good enough On the flip side, Robert Sanchez endured a torrid evening and this will be serious cause for concern at Stamford Bridge. The Spaniard has been a largely inconsistent player during his time at Chelsea and while he often makes spectacular saves, he repeatedly makes basic errors. On Monday, he somehow let a Josh King shot squirm underneath him in the first-half, while he parried an effort from Timothy Castagne straight into the path of Gonzalo Garcia for Fulham’s second goal. If Chelsea want to challenge for the title, Sanchez simply isn’t good enough. Since their failed bid to sign Mike Maignan before the Club World Cup last summer, Chelsea have insisted that a new goalkeeper will not be signed. However, this stance isn’t really related to Sanchez. It’s instead because of the club’s faith in Mike Penders. Chelsea believe the Belgian, who spent last season on loan at sister club Strasbourg, is one of the best goalkeeper prospects in world football and they are reluctant to spend big on a new shot-stopper as it would block Penders’ pathway to consistent first-team football at Stamford Bridge. In essence, Sanchez is a stop-gap option until Penders is ready and while it remains to be seen if the 21-year-old is good enough to play week-in, week-out for Chelsea, Alonso may have little choice but to make a goalkeeper change following his compatriot’s worrying display at Craven Cottage.