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Chelsea wrapped up their preseason schedule with a 3–1 friendly victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Xabi Alonso made his Stamford Bridge dugout debut against his former club, and it took just nine minutes for his new $157 million acquisition Morgan Rogers to tap in the opening goal on his unofficial first appearance.
Jon Aramburu's stunning volley drew the sides level just before halftime, but João Pedro's header put Chelsea back in front only two minutes into the second half.
The forward then added a second in the 77th minute, bursting in behind the visiting backline before slotting a composed finish into the bottom corner to seal the result.
Alonso Provides Massive Hint
With just eight days remaining before Chelsea's opening Premier League fixture, Alonso was widely expected to field his strongest available lineup—giving fans a glimpse of his likely selection for his first competitive match in charge against Fulham.
After experimenting with a 4-2-3-1 shape earlier in preseason, Alonso returned to the 3-4-2-1 system that brought him so much success at Bayer Leverkusen. The same formation was deployed against AC Milan the previous weekend, producing an impressive 3–0 win.
There were some personnel tweaks from that victory. Robert Sánchez remained in goal, protected by a back three of Wesley Fofana, Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill. Captain Reece James featured in midfield alongside Moisés Caicedo, with Pedro Neto and Marco Palestra operating as attacking wingbacks. A dynamic front three of João Pedro, Cole Palmer and Rogers led the attack.
An inconsistent display means competition for places remains open, though a similar lineup is anticipated for the upcoming west London derby against Fulham.
Notable Absentees
Chelsea's oversized squad was missing three players for the Real Sociedad fixture. The out-of-favour trio of Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Tosin Adarabioyo were all left out of the matchday squad entirely.
No official reason was provided for their exclusion, but the implication is fairly straightforward. They were almost certainly left out to protect against potential injuries that could derail imminent transfer moves.
Delap has recently been linked with a switch to Como, where he would join former teammate Trevoh Chalobah and ex-Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fàbregas, while Nicolas Jackson is said to be attracting interest from Aston Villa and other clubs. Benfica, now under the guidance of Tosin's former Fulham boss Marco Silva, have also been mentioned as a potential destination for the centre back.
It appears Alonso has reached a verdict as their time at Chelsea nears its end.
Defensive Cracks Appear
Despite a promising opening spell at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's revamped defensive shape gave cause for concern. Their opponents carved out a host of chances throughout the first half, requiring several sharp stops from Sánchez before eventually claiming a well-deserved equalizer. There was considerable space in behind a disjointed back three, and the double pivot struggled to offer adequate protection.
The Basque visitors registered 10 shots to Chelsea's three before the interval, with four of those on target, and recorded more touches inside the opposition box. A failure to press effectively allowed Real Sociedad to control proceedings through direct, vertical passing that repeatedly stretched a defence caught scrambling. The gaps between the wingbacks and wide centre-halves were frequently exploited by energetic runners.
Chelsea showed clear improvement after the break, recapturing the authority they had shown in the opening quarter-hour, but Alonso will still have concerns about what unfolded in the first half. Premier League opponents may prove far less forgiving than Real Sociedad.
Chelsea's Pedros Shine
While not every Chelsea player impressed, the club's two Pedros—João Pedro and Pedro Neto—stood out as among the best performers on the day.
Following a hat-trick against Western Sydney Wanderers and a brace against AC Milan, Pedro brought his tally to seven goals in five friendlies with another brace—a fine header and a clinical low finish. It's little wonder Chelsea regard him as completely untransferable despite reported interest from Barcelona.
Pedro also played a role in the opener, as a goalbound header was deflected into the path of Rogers for an easy finish, though it was Neto who delivered the initial cross to his striker. It was just one illustration of the quality he can still contribute in an unfamiliar wing-back role.
The 26-year-old charged up and down the right flank with his trademark intensity, chasing down every lost cause and frequently initiating the press. It's the kind of energy Chelsea will sorely miss should he depart this summer amid growing speculation over his future.
Enzo Fernández's Mixed Reception
Attention shifted to the Chelsea bench when Enzo Fernández was prepared to come on as a substitute. Having openly courted Real Madrid the previous season and drawn widespread criticism for his behaviour at the World Cup, it was hardly surprising that he received a lukewarm reception from the Stamford Bridge faithful.
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Fernández's introduction was initially greeted with boos from sections of the home support, before supporters quickly switched to chanting his name. The midfielder has long been a divisive figure among the fanbase, and Saturday's friendly was no exception.
Naturally, the Argentina international has attracted significant attention in recent days following reported links to Manchester City, where he could reunite with former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. Chelsea reportedly issued their Premier League rivals a deadline, demanding $162 million by 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT) on Friday for any deal to proceed.
That deadline has since passed without a bid being submitted for Fernández. However, the situation remains unresolved until the transfer window closes on September 1, leaving his future at the club very much in doubt.