{"id":2038,"date":"2026-08-24T05:33:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T05:33:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=2038"},"modified":"2026-08-24T05:33:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T05:33:26","slug":"why-xabi-alonso-picked-jamie-gittens-over-alejandro-garnacho-at-chelsea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=2038","title":{"rendered":"Why Xabi Alonso picked Jamie Gittens over Alejandro Garnacho at Chelsea"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Jamie Gittens and Morgan Rogers are set to be Chelsea\u2019s two left-wing options this season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Had Alejandro Garnacho<\/a> remained at the club, he also would have been an option for Xabi Alonso<\/a>. However, the 22-year-old has joined Aston Villa on loan after just one campaign in west London.<\/p>\n

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According to Si Phillips Talks Chelsea<\/a>, Alonso effectively had the choice of keeping either Gittens<\/a> or Garnacho at Stamford Bridge<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the end, the Spaniard went with Gittens, supposedly being a fan of the former Borussia Dortmund star\u2019s energy.<\/p>\n

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Who are Chelsea\u2019s world-class players?<\/h3>\n

We’re going with Cole Palmer, Reece James, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez! \ud83e\udd29<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Sander<\/div>
Photo by Richard Pelham\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Gittens perhaps deserves another year at Chelsea<\/a> after a season of injury. He barely played last term, making just 16 appearances in the Premier League<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Garnacho got more opportunities than Gittens but did not really take them. The Argentina international finished the league campaign with just one goal to his name.<\/p>\n

With Chelsea spending \u00a3117m on Rogers, you would not expect Gittens to start too many games this season. However, if the England Under-21 star remains fit, he will play more matches than he did after his arrival at the Bridge.<\/p>\n

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\"Jamie<\/div>
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Chelsea could have one of the deadliest attacks in the Premier League this season<\/h2>\n

It is going to be hard for Gittens and Chelsea\u2019s other second-string attackers to break into Alonso\u2019s starting XI. It is still very early. We need to see how Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro all work together, but on paper, that is an incredible attack.<\/p>\n

Paul Merson recently discussed Rogers, Palmer and Pedro<\/a> and shared his worry about that very attack functioning well together. But going into Monday\u2019s game against Fulham, Chelsea fans are feeling very confident.<\/p>\n

That confidence largely stems from the appointment of Alonso, who has brought some much-needed positivity to the fan base. But all of that is going to go out of the window if Chelsea do not win on Monday. That is what Alonso is going to be judged on, not what he says in press conferences or his trophy cabinet as a player.<\/p>\n

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