Chelsea

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Xabi Alonso's Chelsea have quickly established themselves as entertainers, with Wednesday's chaotic 6-3 comeback win over Leeds in the Carabao Cup the latest, and most extreme, example.

The Blues have scored 16 goals in five games in all competitions, with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro, the latter not involved on Wednesday, all combining to great effect.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said: "They're going to be a good watch this season, especially with the way Alonso is setting them up to be.

"Every game I've seen Chelsea in this season I've thought has been a good game and obviously tonight was an absolute barnstormer.

"That front three - if he can keep them fit and firing throughout the whole season then they're going to be a handful for anybody."

However, the entertaining attacking football exhibited by the Blues is not the only narrative surrounding the early days of Alonso's reign. His side have also conceded 10 goals in their five matches - and were booed off at half-time on Wednesday when 1-0 down.

"They need to try and get a couple of clean sheets," said former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam.

"As a coach, I don't think Xabi will be too happy with that and the 10 goals conceded so far this season. They are far too open and there are structural problems and failures within that.

"There are still things to work on. As a coach you don't want to be conceding two or three every game because ultimately it's not every game you can score four or five to come back.

"It's something they'll have to work on. Maybe it's why they brought in Jordan Henderson - to give them a bit of experience in the middle of the pitch when he gets fit.

"It's great for the neutral, lots of goals, but it's something Alonso will want to work on and he will want clean sheets."

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We asked for your views on Chelsea's 6-3 win over Leeds United in the Carabao Cup.

Here are some of your comments:

Nick: Xabi Alonso was rescued by that brilliant second-half performance. He was asking for trouble playing three at the back, with no experienced defensive midfield cover, against a physical and intense Leeds side. The focus on Chelsea's scintillating attack is masking issues over how the defence is organised. Without two central midfielders to drop back and help, a back three can't cover the width of the pitch and will keep giving away opportunities.

Stuart: The first half was awful and highlighted that Jamie Gittens and Malo Gusto, in particular, are not up to scratch. The second half was brilliant going forward but still a bit open defensively. It was so much more exciting than anything we did last season.

Peter: We need to introduce the fringe players two at a time and keep the defensive core the same regardless of the competition. Mike Penders should be the club's No. 1. However, what a great attacking display in both halves. Shame we didn't do that against Arsenal.

Paul: Conceding goals is still a worry, but if we're scoring four and six in games, then I'll take it! A huge step up from watching the sideways and backwards passing we had under Enzo Maresca. So much better to watch. Thank you, Xabi.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Xabi Alonso watched his Chelsea team hit six second-half goals against Leeds United, but felt the need to "take responsibility" for the shaky start that came before the thrilling flurry.

Amid jubilation that followed the final whistle at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea recovered from 2-0 down to progress as 6-3 winners in the Carabao Cup, it was easy to forget that Alonso's side were booed off at half-time.

Supporters witnessed arguably the worst first half of Alonso's short tenure to date, with Chelsea fortunate not to be further in arrears after the head coach made nine changes to his line-up.

The team's rhythm was disrupted. Leeds made eight changes themselves, but Daniel Farke's side took control and were threatening to surge into the fourth round.

Alonso responded to Chelsea's out-of-sorts start by making four substitutions at half-time - on came Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Pedro Neto and Reece James, and together they changed the game.

However, speaking after the match, Alonso said he had made it "hard" for his players in the first place.

"I need to take blame and responsibility," he said. "I need to be able to help them better so they are not responsible."

For the Premier League's biggest clubs, this competition is usually an opportunity to blood youngsters and give fringe players valuable minutes.

However, only 35-year-old Danny Welbeck, who scored twice, emerged from the starters with a compelling case for more regular involvement.

Young attackers Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens suffered the disappointment of being substituted at half-time, while £40m signing Geovany Quenda did not add to his solitary substitute appearance as he watched from the bench.

Midfielder Reggie Watson, making his debut at 16 years old, was also withdrawn at the break after being booked.

Alonso later said he would not take a "cynical" view about the difference in level between his proven stars and back-up options.

Nevertheless, reaching the fourth round is important for Chelsea. It is not only about preserving their hopes of silverware in a season without European football, but also about needing as many competitive fixtures as possible.

Read the full article here

After failing to sign Roma midfielder Manu Kone in the summer, Chelsea could go back for the 25-year-old France international in January, offering a deal that could involve winger Jamie Gittens heading in the opposite direction. (Simon Phillips, via CaughtOffside, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, speaking to Sky Sports: "Happy with the result and the reaction."

On team selection: "Yeah, there was so many changes. There was a risk. Things weren't going the way we planned, so we had to change. I take responsibility with the first half. The crowd were great, with the atmosphere [pushing the players on]."

On the impact of substitutes: "I like that they were ready before the game. They knew they weren't starting, and they were ready to make an impact.

"When you put together a team that hardly plays together, it is difficult to play at this level when [Leeds United] are intense."

On Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer's chemistry: "For sure, it's so important. To have a great chemistry between them. They enjoy assisting together. It's important for the team."

Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, speaking to Sky Sports on what manager Xabi Alonso said at half-time: "Up the intensity. Thought the first half was flat, so we upped the tempo."

On playing in this Chelsea team: "I'm enjoying it. All the attacking players, it's a lot different for us. I think we still have a bit to go, but we are getting results, which is the main thing."

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

What did you make of Leeds' display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Xabi Alonso has confirmed midfielder Kendry Paez will not be part of Chelsea's first-team squad after failing to secure a move before last week's transfer deadline.

The 19-year-old Ecuador international is expected to join Cobham Next Gen - Chelsea's Under-21 side - after failing to find a loan move in the Premier League or Championship.

Chelsea had wanted to send Paez on a domestic loan after Argentine club River Plate removed him from their first-team squad and forced them into recalling him.

However, Chelsea used the last of their overseas loan allocations on goalkeeper Robert Sanchez's move to Como 1907 and midfielder Dario Essugo's switch to Strasbourg on deadline day.

Asked whether Paez would now be reintegrated into the senior squad, Alonso said: "At the moment, he's not part of the first-team squad."

When asked if that could change later in the season, he replied: "No, no, he's not part of the plans."

The decision follows a mixed loan spell at Strasbourg, the French club owned by Chelsea's parent company, where Paez won the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Month award but also faced criticism from former manager Liam Rosenior and sections of the French media.

There have also been questions over his conduct off the pitch. In March 2024, Paez was filmed in a strip club in New York while on international duty with Ecuador at the age of 16.

Paez was part of Ecuador's squad at the 2026 World Cup and made one substitute appearance.

The youngster joined Chelsea from Independiente del Valle in 2023 in a deal worth up to £17.3m, but has yet to make a first-team appearance for the club.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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A late flourish from Estevao Willian almost snatched Chelsea a draw at Arsenal on Sunday.

His curling strike was saved by goalkeeper David Raya to preserve Arsenal's lead, but it served as a reminder of the important role the 19-year-old Brazil winger could play in Xabi Alonso's side.

His game time has been limited so far this season by the club record £117m signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa as well as the form of Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro.

Reports in Brazil have suggested Estevao is unhappy with his lack of opportunities.

However, those claims have been denied by sources at Stamford Bridge and by people close to the player, some of whom have also expressed excitement about Chelsea's summer recruitment - including the arrival of Rogers.

Chelsea regard Estevao as one of a small group of untouchable players that includes Palmer, Joao Pedro and Moises Caicedo.

But where does Estevao fit at Chelsea?

Estevao came on for Pedro Neto, who has been operating as a wing-back in Alonso's new system, as Chelsea chased an equaliser on Sunday.

It is difficult to imagine any other in-game circumstance in which Estevao would be asked to perform the same role, given the defensive and physical demands placed on players in that position.

Instead, Palmer occupies Estevao's preferred inside-right number 10 role.

Estevao and Palmer have shown encouraging signs when used together when Alonso has played a back four - but he has deployed that shape only against Luton Town in the Carabao Cup.

Displacing Palmer for league games could prove difficult as Alonso regards him as both a dressing-room leader and one of his key attacking threats.

Alonso has also fielded close to his strongest side even in the Carabao Cup, with Chelsea not involved in European competition and with the new head coach eager to establish his tactical principles as quickly as possible following his arrival.

Estevao is not alone in struggling for meaningful minutes early in the season and, should Leeds United win at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, the Blues will have no further cup fixtures until the FA Cup in January.

That quietly makes Wednesday's game an important one in terms of keeping a 27-man squad satisfied.

Read more on Estevao's position at Chelsea here

Chelsea are ready to make a move for Bournemouth's English midfielder Alex Scott, 23, in January. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Carabao Cup third-round tie against Leeds United at Stamford Bridge (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Marco Palestra and Moises Caicedo are "not yet" match fit. Both players are being assessed game by game, but the cup fixture "isn't the right moment to take a risk".

• Caicedo could be back for Saturday's Premier League game against Hull City, though. A decision will be made on his availability on Thursday or Friday.

• Levi Colwill will be available for selection, but Jordan Henderson and Emmanuel Emegha will not feature.

• On whether he will name a strong side like he did in the second-round tie against Luton Town: "We always assess everything in terms of where we are coming from and where we are going. We try to take all of the games and the cup ties very seriously. We want to field the best possible team."

• He added: "The more players you have involved in the squad and playing minutes, the better it is for the overall level. For that reason, it is important that we use all of our players because it breeds a very good dynamic."

• Chelsea are expecting a "very intense and very tough game" against Leeds United, who enjoy one-v-one duels. Alonso added: "We need to cope with that, find solutions for it, and know that it is going to play an important role."

• When asked about reports in Brazil suggesting Estevao Willian is concerned about his playing opportunities this season, he replied: "No [he hasn't said that to me]. He is ready and training well. He was given a chance to make a very good impact against Arsenal. He is fully involved in our squad."

• Alonso reiterated that "private conversations should remain private". However, he feels he can "100% count on" the 19-year-old this season.

• On his early impressions of summer signing Valentin Barco: "He is a competitor and a fighter. He is very good with the ball, open to adapting quickly and intelligent. We are only four games into the season in total, so it is still early days for him, but he is ready for the challenge."

• Chelsea can be "happy" with their start to the season, but Alonso is looking for his players to also be "self-demanding". He explained: "We are taking steps but there are still lots of steps to be taken. We need to improve in the areas where we can do better and emphasise on the areas where we are already doing well."

• He added: "We aren't even close to the final product. As I said in my first news conference, the Chelsea we will see in January will be a much better version [than in August]."

Listen to commentary of Chelsea v Leeds United on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3 and BBC Sounds on Wednesday

Got a question about Chelsea? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

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Mykhailo Mudryk became the first player to move from Chelsea to Tottenham in 17 years and the first loanee to join Spurs from Chelsea since 1992.

The Ukraine international, 25, has since returned to action, making his first competitive appearance in more than 21 months as a substitute in Roberto de Zerbi's side against Nottingham Forest this weekend.

Upon joining, Mudryk reiterated that De Zerbi, who managed him at Shakhtar Donetsk, was his "football father".

However, a move to north London was not a realistic option until the last few days of the window.

Spurs had previously explored moves for Liverpool's Cody Gakpo and then-Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye, with Richarlison set to move in the opposite direction to the Toffees.

However, Liverpool opted to keep Gakpo, while neither Ndiaye nor Richarlison agreed personal terms despite the clubs reaching an agreement. Ndiaye ultimately joined Manchester City instead.

Meanwhile, Leeds United were favourites to sign Mudryk.

Their proposed deal included a loan fee, full wage coverage and penalties if the attacker was not played.

Leeds had at least two offers rejected by Chelsea during talks that lasted more than two weeks, but remained hopeful of completing a deal because they were Mudryk's preferred destination.

Brentford also explored the possibility of signing Mudryk, having previously attempted to acquire him in 2022, but wanted an affordable option-to-buy clause that Chelsea were unwilling to include.

Leeds were blindsided when Chelsea and Spurs held club-to-club talks over deals for both Mudryk and Tosin Adarabioyo on the same day, helping reduce the size of Chelsea's squad at a crucial stage of the window.

The agreement for Mudryk also included a £75m option to buy. While that option is considered unlikely to be exercised, it is expected to establish a high benchmark for any asking price should Chelsea decide to sell the attacker next summer.

Ultimately, the Yorkshire club instead completed a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Jean-Matteo Bahoya, using an extended deal-sheet deadline to secure an initial loan move with an obligation to buy, just before the window shut.

BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club team have been discussing Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso's "brave" and "fascinating" approach to defending Arsenal's corners.

The Spaniard suffered his first defeat as Blues manager on Sunday, as Mikel Arteta's side came from behind to earn a 2-1 win at Emirates Stadium.

On Sunday, Chelsea employed a tactic of leaving four players upfield for defensive corners, going man for man in the penalty area.

"I loved the braveness of it, if I'm honest," former Premier League defender Conor Coady said. "It is risky - of course it is, especially against Arsenal - but I love the way Alonso is thinking outside the box a little bit.

"Someone has got to try to stop Arsenal. We have been speaking about their set-pieces for over a year and there has to be a way to stop them.

"We have to remember we are only seeing him at the start of something, though. At least he is trying to think outside the box and trying different things within the game."

Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton added: "It was fascinating, but his players were always going to have to deal with Gabriel and they needed somebody who could match him in the air.

"The point is that you can try to defend Arsenal flooding the box with bodies and have everybody back, but they will still find a way of scoring.

"But I like seeing different things and I like that Xabi Alonso felt brave enough to do that."

Watch the clip below for more discussion about Alonso's style and how, of all the managers he played under, the 44-year-old is most like Carlo Ancelotti...

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Chelsea showed late interest in Fulham's Sander Berge as they attempted to strengthen their midfield options before Enzo Fernandez's departure.

The Blues intended to sign a central midfielder in the closing days of the summer transfer window as they prepared for Fernandez to join Manchester City.

However, Chelsea's search ended in disappointment as they sold Fernandez for £125m without signing a replacement.

It is understood Norway international Berge was among the options explored by Chelsea during the final stages of the window, though they did not make a formal bid and Fulham considered the 28-year-old not for sale.

Since his arrival from Burnley in 2023, Berge has become a key player for the Cottagers, making 78 appearances.

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Chelsea centre-back Maxence Lacroix says the Blues "deserved more" from their 2-1 defeat against Arsenal.

Lacroix said: "I think it was a good start but once they scored it got more and more difficult.

"But we showed that we also had good actions and good attacks, so the defeat hurts a little bit. We gave our best."

The 26-year-old has featured in all four games for Xabi Alonso since his £52m move from Crystal Palace and although Chelsea have only lost one game, they have conceded seven goals in three league fixtures.

"I think we deserved more. Luck was not by our side, but we have to accept it," Lacroix added.

"The desire to score, the attitude was clear. We showed good character until the very end. We deserved the 2-2, but we learned for next time."

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Chelsea have been ranked the most productive academy in England and Wales for the fourth consecutive year.

The Academy Productivity Rankings, external, compiled by Training Ground Guru, assess the impact of players in the men's game who have been with various academies until the age of 18, using a data-driven methodology.

Manchester United topped the rankings for three successive seasons before Chelsea claimed first place in the 2021-22 campaign.

Chelsea have now again finished top of the rankings, ahead of Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham.

Speaking about the achievement, academy director Glenn van der Kraan told Training Ground Guru: "On behalf of everyone at Chelsea Football Club, we are incredibly proud to have topped the Academy Productivity Rankings for a fourth successive year.

"That record reflects the hard work of so many people across the academy and the entire club, and I thank the club's ownership and sporting directors for their support and backing."

Chelsea won Premier League 2 and the Under-18 Premier League title before beating Manchester City 5-1 in the national final between the northern and southern champions last season.

The Blues have since renamed their under-21 and under-19 teams as Cobham Next Gen.

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

Matthew: Established squad beats big summer spenders. Another example of how building a squad over time really pays off. Very optimistic display.

Vince: It was arguably our first big test in the league and the boys passed it with flying colours. They played with the confidence and grit of champions, swamping Chelsea and forcing the equaliser as if by sheer willpower alone, before Martin Odegaard scored the winner following some classy play. A massive, massive result.

Brian: I'm 84 years old and have been a Gooner since I was five. Wow, what a game. Mikel Arteta has got this team exactly as he wants and they were magnificent against Chelsea. The defence is fully under control, with David Raya putting on a excellent display. I thought Chelsea were not there expecting to win and their midfield was somewhat in disarray at times. Think Xabi Alonso needs to tighten at the back more too.

Gabriel: This game was the epitome of "attack wins you games, but defence wins you championships". Unfortunately for Chelsea, we had both those categories. Riccardo Calafiori was an absolute beast, Christos Tzolis reminded everybody who he is again, and this crazy captain of mine Odegaard was at it again. Huge test passedand we go again at Napoli.

Chelsea fans

George: Chelsea, as usual, conceded after taking the lead but this time Arsenal deserved to be ahead as they were better. The usual suspects were poor/average while Arsenal had 11 good players on the pitch. I do believe Chelsea will continue to improve and hopefully Estevao Willian will start games by Christmas.

Nicholas: We certainly gave them something to think about. Given we had a makeshift midfield and a defence that is largely all over the place, it was surprisingly Arsenal who were defending at the end. Big, big mistake not getting a top midfielder in the transfer window, which will probably be costly at the end of the season if it's not fixed. Arsenal can certainly be got at, not like the Manchester City and Liverpool of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp respectively.

Tristan: I'm so, so gutted. When Morgan Rogers scored that early goal, I thought we had a chance - but it is what is. I think the two goals we conceded were a bit unlucky - if only Emi Martinez stopped that Kai Havertz shot and our centre-halves weren't split as much. But there is a silver lining - I do think we are still title contenders. And we wait for Hull City.

Fossie: An excellent start but we conceded far too much possession to Arsenal and the inevitable happened. Gabriel should have been sent off for kicking Martinez in the head and Estevao was unlucky near the end. But there were some positive signs, enough to at least be challenging for the title.