Alonso lauds 'special' Chelsea attack after opening-day win at Fulham

Xabi Alonso took the time to applaud Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers for creating "special things" during their opening-day win over Fulham on Monday. 

Alonso made a winning start to life in the Premier League as Chelsea emerged 3-2 victors over their London rivals, and it was the Blues' new-look attack that stole the show. 

Joao Pedro lifted Chelsea into the lead after just 31 seconds before Josh King levelled things up in the 23rd minute after his strike squeezed past Robert Sanchez. 

But Chelsea restored their lead four minutes before half-time through Rogers, who tucked home a debut goal after excellent work from fellow summer signing Maxence Lacroix. 

All three players combined for Chelsea's third early in the second half. Rogers' flicked the ball on to Joao Pedro, who held play up before laying in Palmer to finish under Bernd Leno, rendering Gonzalo Garcia's 54th-minute strike a consolation. 

Chelsea started their Premier League season with a win for the first time since 2022-23, while Alonso became the first Chelsea manager to see the Blues score three goals in his first top-flight game in charge since Maurizio Sarri in August 2018. 

However, Alonso heaped praise on his attack, telling Sky Sports: "It is a great combination and great quality. We know that if we put them in a good position, then they have this talent to create special things.

"Today I am happy that today all three scored. I really enjoyed his [Palmer] performance. He played with responsibility and maturity, but also freedom.

"It is really important to me that we get the best out of Cole. I am happy for him and if we are going to have a good team, then we need a great Cole."

Joao Pedro's goal after 31 seconds was Chelsea's fastest Premier League goal since Pedro opened the scoring after 30 seconds against Manchester United in October 2016.

But even for all of their attacking play, Fulham posed a threat on the counter. Alvaro Arbeloa's team finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.34 from their 14 attempts to Chelsea's tally of 1.70 from their 18 shots.

"The early goal helped to gain confidence. I think we had a few chances to score the second one before their equaliser, but we were quite stable," Alonso added. 

"We were quite comfortable even without the ball and were a threat.

"The three strikers were combining well and creating chances and, at the end, to know that to win games away you need to roll your sleeves up and fight and defend your goal.

"It's something we need to do for the future as well, and it's a good first day for us."

Palmer was one of the standout players for Chelsea, with his display coming after missing out on a spot in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for this summer's World Cup. 

His assist for Joao Pedro's early goal after 31 seconds saw him equal his assist tally from the 2025-26 Premier League season, when he got one assist in 1,965 minutes, before getting himself on the scoresheet in the 49th minute. 

Since making his Premier League debut for Chelsea in September 2023, only Mohamed Salah (15) and Ollie Watkins (10) have both scored and assisted in more games than Palmer (nine), and he is ready to attack the new season. 

"Did you not watch the game? I'm only joking, I'm ready, you know," Palmer said when asked how ready he was for the new campaign. 

"It was a difficult season with injuries and whatnot, but throughout the summer and since I've been back, I've worked extra hard.

"Obviously, with the injuries, I've had to try and prevent them and work extra hard day in, day out. I know the talent I've got so I can put in performances like that.

"Normally I'm not an emotional person, the people who know me know I'm not usually bothered about things in life, but over the summer I rested, I recharged and, yeah, I'm ready, and I'm hungry."

And Palmer's performance was also praised by Rogers, who became the first player to score on his Premier League debut for Chelsea since Christopher Nkunku in December 2023 against Wolves.

He was also the first Blues player to have 3+ shots (three) and create 3+ chances (four) in the first half of his debut for the club on record since 2003-04, but he was quick to applaud his team-mate for his display. 

"Everyone knows how good he is," Rogers said of Palmer. 

"Obviously, he had a difficult season with injuries and stuff last year, and you could see in his eyes in pre-season and training that he's ready to prove people wrong.

"You saw that with that performance – the best player on the pitch by a mile and that's what he does. It's good to have him on our side."