Your Local Guardian
·26 Aug 2026
Harrison's Hat-Trick of West London Derbies for Chelsea
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso faces a rapid sequence of West London fixtures against Fulham, Luton Town and Brighton, offering an early test of his tactics and squad management. Chelsea’s squad remains heavily overstocked, with around 40 senior players and no European football to provide opportunities for fringe players. Alonso is targeting silverware by next May, while European qualification may be the club’s more important priority. Joao Pedro’s long-term contract extension and his partnership with Cole Palmer are presented as significant positives.