Xabi Alonso’s first match in charge of Chelsea produced a 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers, though the performance raised as many questions as it answered.
The undisputed star of the show was Joao Pedro, who lit up Accor Stadium with a stunning nine-minute hat-trick that underlined his quality and intent.
Alonso described the Brazilian forward as “very, very hungry” and “determined to have a great season,” suggesting the manager sees him as central to his plans.
It is thought that being left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad may have fuelled Joao Pedro’s desire to prove himself, and his display of power, pace, and finishing was certainly a statement.
In stark contrast, Liam Delap endured another difficult outing, continuing a run of underwhelming performances that have followed his £30m move from Ipswich last summer.
Delap looks short of confidence and could now be sold, with Chelsea progressing talks to sign Danny Welbeck, 35, from Brighton as an experienced replacement.
Welbeck has agreed personal terms and there is optimism a deal can be reached, although Brighton have refused to comment on the matter.
Chelsea are also in advanced discussions to bring in Jordan Henderson, 36, from Brentford, seeking to add leadership and experience after a disappointing 2025-26 season.
When asked about pursuing two older players, Alonso said: “We need balance, to have a complete squad and make a good team. For that, we have an idea and plan.”
The early highlight of the match came after just six minutes, when 17-year-old Dastan Satpaev scored the first goal of Alonso’s reign in spectacular fashion.
Satpaev, a triallist at present, cannot formally complete his move from FC Kairat to Stamford Bridge until 12 August, making his contribution all the more remarkable.
The Kazakhstan forward is attempting to become the first Kazakh player to appear in a Premier League match and is already a superstar in his home country.
Quick and sharp in the box, Satpaev is stylistically compared to former Argentina and Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, with fans travelling from Kazakhstan to watch him play in Sydney.
Alonso said of the teenager: “He is a ball threat, he attacks the inner channel well and is good as a striker coming from the outside. He is really strong, really quick and I have been really impressed with him.”
The manager added: “I knew Dastan from Almaty,” referencing the time he faced the player with his former club Real Madrid last season.
On the tactical side, Alonso deployed the 4-2-3-1 system previously favoured by Enzo Maresca, with several academy players drafted in due to World Cup absences, including club record £117m signing Morgan Rogers.
Midfielders Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Reggie Walsh, and Reggie Watson all impressed, with 16-year-olds Nicoll-Jazuli and Watson anchoring the midfield together for long periods.
Winger Jamie Gittens continued his encouraging pre-season form, making it three goals in three appearances after previously scoring twice in behind-closed-doors friendlies against EFL opposition.
Left-back Landon Emenalo, 18, was handed significant playing time with no senior alternatives available, offering another glimpse of the club’s promising youth talent.
Despite the gulf in quality between the Premier League and A-League sides making the scoreline somewhat misleading, the performance overall was sloppy, with Chelsea still adjusting to the effects of jet lag.
