For the first hour at the Allianz Stadium in Australia, Chelsea FC’s pre-season friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers was a stage for young prospects like Reggie Walsh and Landon Emenalo to take center-stage. As both midfielders, Walsh and Watson played crucial roles. Walsh, aged just 17, made four senior appearances this season, demonstrating impressive composure on the ball with his under-18 teammate Watson, who is renowned for his set-piece expertise.
Walsh played as a number ten role against Western Sydney Wanderers, showing his involvement in pressing and linking up play effectively. Watson, also an under-18 player, showcased his set-piece prowess by taking numerous corners and finding plenty of space during the match.
Dasan Satpaev, while not from Chelsea's Cobham academy, joined the action with a quick goal, opening the scoring after running onto Ryan Kavuma-McQueen’s through ball. These performances suggest continued optimism for the club’s future talent pool.
Patterns of Play Signal New Philosophy
The pre-season friendly offered insights into Xabi Alonso’s tactical approach. Both Josh Acheampong and Tosin struggled with the pace and required more effort in possession, leading to a 3-2 defeat. Despite these lapses, Alonso was keen on forming pockets of space behind wingers Dasan Satpaev and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen.
During build-up play, forward players ventured into attacking positions, looking for options to accelerate the game’s pace. This dynamic played out with varying effectiveness, but Chelsea focused consistently on making it work. The formation could see attackers like Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and Estêvão paired in forward areas along with Levi Colwill from centre-back providing passing range.
Defensive Frailties Highlighted
Defensively, the match revealed several challenges that need to be addressed as Alonso’s Chelsea prepares for Premier League action this season. The first 64 minutes saw defensive lapses, including poor decision-making and slow responses. However, once the senior squad members - Josh Acheampong and Tosin - were substituted out and replaced by players more accustomed to regular action in the Premier League, such as Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana, there was noticeable improvement.
Aaron Anselmino’s debut further added excitement with his promising performance at left-back. Additionally, Alonso will get opportunities to observe players Jorrel Hato and Mamadou Sarr throughout the tour, given some players are still recovering from injuries sustained during the World Cup period. The team's poor performance on a difficult surface is also a factor that must be considered.
Key Player Impact
João Pedro’s introduction for the second half was transformative. Replacing Jamie Delap, who struggled to make an impact, Pedro quickly turned the match around with his clinical finishing and creative play. He contributed three goals within nine minutes, one of which was a point-blank finish following a corner by Wesley Fofana.
Pedro's performance was a clear improvement from last season, proving that he could contribute significantly as Chelsea’s new number nine, although Delap’s return from injury will see competition for that central striker role. The introduction of goalkeepers Benfica’s Estêvão and Newcastle United’s Aaron Lam will add further depth to Alonso’s options.
Overall, the visit to Australia provided an excellent opportunity to assess the young talents and refine the squad's tactical patterns under the guidance of new manager Xabi Alonso.
