{"id":7171,"date":"2026-10-10T18:56:05","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T18:56:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=7171"},"modified":"2026-10-10T18:56:05","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T18:56:05","slug":"xabi-alonso-simply-cannot-snub-chelsea-star-vs-bournemouth-he-finally-has-some-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=7171","title":{"rendered":"Xabi Alonso simply cannot snub Chelsea star vs Bournemouth, he finally has some confidence"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Xabi Alonso has a few decisions to make when picking his starting line-up on Saturday, as Chelsea play host to Bournemouth. Whether that be formation, his three-man defence or his double pivot.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Having picked up one point from their last three Premier League games, Alonso<\/a> needs his side to get back to winning ways. But Bournemouth are no pushovers, even if Alex Scott will be missing on Saturday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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No clean sheet in 21 Premier League games, and 12 goals conceded in Chelsea\u2019s <\/a>first five league games, has got to convince Alonso to take action when picking his defence, as well as his central midfielders, too.<\/p>\n

Xabi Alonso has got to start Romeo Lavia on Saturday<\/h2>\n

Lavia<\/a> has endured a difficult three years at Chelsea, but finally, he is starting to show glimpses that prove why Chelsea spent \u00a358m on him. His performances for Belgium during the break proved that further.<\/p>\n

Cole Palmer once described him as one of the best in the world<\/a>, and in a Belgium shirt, he showed that. A gorgeous assist in Belgium\u2019s 4-1 loss to France that even caught the eye of Zinedine Zidane<\/a> this week.<\/p>\n

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Chelsea needed this break BADLY\u2026 but with so many players racking up minutes for their countries, did it actually help them or could it have made things worse? \ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n

Let us know your reasoning! \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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For any midfielder, getting praise from Zidane will instantly spike your confidence. Lavia is match-sharp, fitter than he\u2019s ever been since his move to Chelsea, and ready to go if Alonso picks him on Saturday.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s even been touted as a future Ballon d\u2019Or winner<\/a> by a former Anderlecht boss since his performance in Paris. Alonso would be foolish not to start him when his confidence is higher than it\u2019s ever been.<\/p>\n

The contenders: Who could start in midfield on Saturday?<\/h2>\n

Last time out, Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco were both given starts by Alonso at Brentford. Whether it was their first Chelsea starts, or playing alongside each other, it really didn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

It was a learning curve for Alonso. He made too many changes \u2013 even if enforced \u2013 at once. Barco and Henderson remain options, while Moises Caicedo is back in the frame, but might start off the bench.<\/p>\n

Reece James is also expected to be fit. Xabi Alonso\u2019s preferred double pivot is Caicedo and James<\/a>, but Saturday might come too soon to start both. Surely, Lavia returns to the starting line-up on Saturday.<\/p>\n

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