25/08/2026
๐ฃ๏ธ Xabi Alonso on Chelseaโs 3-2 win over Fulham [A] in the Premier League:
๐ค โIt feels very good, for sure.
โWe know how tough it is to win any Premier League game, and any away Premier League game. We prepared for an intense game, and I feel it was a very professional, solid performance, showing maturity and managing the difficult moments.
โWe got the lead quite early, had chances to score the second one, but after the equaliser we were through ten minutes when we didnโt choose the right moments to press and the movements.
โWe corrected this well and in the second half, we felt comfortable without the ball, controlling the game. It was a performance to build for the future. There are things to improve for sure, but it was a good first day.
โ[Itโs important] to manage in difficult moments, not to lose this emotional control. We know the Premier League is fantastic because sometimes the games are out of your hands.
โYou donโt control them, so the players on the pitch need to know how to manage it โ itโs as important as the tactics being right. Itโs a process but today we went through good moments on that and we need to carry on that.โ
๐ ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ:
โWe are happy to play our first Premier League game of the season. My first official Premier League game with Chelsea felt great; in this stadium with our fans at the end, celebrating with them.
โI had the feeling before kick-off that they were excited and they were hoping to see a good performance from the team, a serious one, and one they could see that we gave everything and fought for everything. I saw happy faces in the end and itโs important to create this bond. Itโs early days, first game, but a good one.โ
(Via Chelsea FC)