{"id":7294,"date":"2026-10-12T18:01:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T18:01:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=7294"},"modified":"2026-10-12T18:01:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T18:01:07","slug":"what-cole-palmer-just-said-about-xabi-alonso-should-really-excite-chelsea-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=7294","title":{"rendered":"What Cole Palmer just said about Xabi Alonso should really excite Chelsea fans"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Cole Palmer almost took a bit of a back seat on Saturday as Joao Pedro and Jordan Henderson stole the headlines with a brace apiece, as Xabi Alonso\u2019s Chelsea got back to winning ways on Saturday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After defeats to Arsenal and Brentford and a frustrating 2-2 draw against Hull, Chelsea<\/a> needed to get back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon. They did, with an enormous 5-1 win over Bournemouth.<\/p>\n

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Henderson was the unlikely hero, with two goals and an assist. Pedro also scored twice, while Morgan Rogers got his name on the score sheet. Pedro Neto, Pep Chavarria and Cole Palmer<\/a> got an assist.<\/p>\n

Cole Palmer\u2019s Xabi Alonso claim should be really good news<\/h2>\n

Yes, Bournemouth have been poor this season, and on Saturday, they were without star man Alex Scott<\/a>. But it was a proper performance from Chelsea, with Moises Caicedo\u2019s return heralded as the key.<\/p>\n

Speaking after the game, Palmer was quoted by Chelsea\u2019s website<\/a> as saying that the Chelsea squad are still adapting and only just starting to get to grips with what Alonso<\/a> is requesting of his new team.<\/p>\n

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Jordan Henderson starred in Chelsea\u2019s win over Bournemouth, but who is the club\u2019s greatest-ever free transfer? \ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Credit: Photo by Chris Lee \u2013 Chelsea FC\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still early with the manager, and he\u2019s still trying to get his ideas across, but we\u2019re starting to adapt and especially this week we\u2019ve been working on ideas and stuff like that, so it\u2019s been good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

That should be really exciting for Chelsea fans. If this side is still only just learning the ropes of what Alonso wants from his players, and is still adapting, imagine what they can do when it\u2019s second nature.<\/p>\n

It could be seen as, why haven\u2019t they adapted yet? Why are they not rehearsed in what Alonso wants after an entire pre-season? But if they can beat Bournemouth 5-1 already, then the end product is exciting.<\/p>\n

He has had to contend with a World Cup summer, players getting injured, and a three-week international break. The squad have also gone through many managerial changes, so the adaptation will take time.<\/p>\n

Xabi Alonso\u2019s Bayer Leverkusen form was poor before clicking<\/h2>\n

Alonso won the Bundesliga title at Leverkusen in his second season with the German club, going a whole league season without loss. His Leverkusen side also reached the Europa League final before losing.<\/p>\n

But his first few months at Leverkusen were tricky<\/a>. Although he won his first game 4-0, Alonso would only see Leverkusen win once in his first seven games \u2013 losing 3-0 to Porto and 5-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt.<\/p>\n

He would win his next five games, before losing four of the five after that. Ultimately, Leverkusen needed time to adapt to Alonso before it clicked in the second season; he needs time to recreate that at Chelsea.<\/p>\n

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