Xabi Alonso named his first Chelsea side to face Western Sydney Wanderers, with Josh Acheampong, Tosin and Liam Delap in the starting XI for the opening fixture of Chelsea's pre-season tour at Accor Stadium. It was Chelsea's first public line-up under Alonso, and the first glimpse of how he intends to frame this squad in Sydney.
The match against the A-League side was the search answer because it was the first time supporters could see an Alonso team sheet for Chelsea in competitive-looking action. Chelsea made the game available live on CFC+ on the Chelsea Official App and website, with the service costing £14.99 for the whole year.
The selection also showed how much room Alonso was giving to players who have come through the Blues' Academy. Chelsea's starting XI included several Academy graduates, while Acheampong, Tosin, Dario Essugo and Delap brought first-team experience into the line-up.
There was still no sense that the side was finished. Cole Palmer, Jamie Gittens, Estevao Willian and Joao Pedro were among the substitutes, alongside Sanchez, Curd, Palestra, Colwill, Fofana, Anselmino, Diakite, Lavia, Kellyman and Nicoll-Jazuli, suggesting changes were expected across the 90 minutes rather than a fixed first-choice shape.
That leaves the result of Alonso's first Chelsea XI for another report. What matters here is that the first selection is now on the record: a blend of Academy progress, senior experience and high-profile names waiting on the bench as the Sydney Super Cup began.
