Chelsea 3-1 Real Sociedad: Xabi Alonso deploys back three again as Morgan Rogers scores and Enzo Fernandez receives mixed reaction
Xabi Alonso wins first home match as Chelsea end pre-season with victory; Alonso deploys 3-4-3 formation that was successful at Bayer Leverkusen; Chelsea struggle in first half; Morgan Rogers scores on debut; Joao Pedro nets twice; Enzo Fernandez booed and cheered by supporters
Saturday 15 August 2026 16:58, UK
Chelsea ended pre-season with a mixed 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad as manager Xabi Alonso offered more clues about the formation his side could play ahead of their Premier League opener against Fulham.
For a third straight match, Chelsea started with a back three, replicating Alonso's successful 3-4-3 system from his time at Bayer Leverkusen when they won the Bundesliga in 2024, as British-record signing Morgan Rogers and defender Maxence Lacroix both made their debuts.
However, despite Rogers netting a tap-in within just 10 minutes, Chelsea laboured in the first-half, sitting too deep and unable to press their LaLiga opponents, who deservedly equalised before half-time through Jon Mikel Aramburu's brilliant volley after forcing goalkeeper Robert Sanchez into several saves.
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But Alonso sent his side out unchanged after the break and they were much improved, Joao Pedro heading in from Reece James' cross just two minutes into the half before the striker netted his seventh of pre-season late on with a tidy finish.
Enzo Fernandez, though, added to Chelsea's mixed afternoon when his introduction as a 62nd-minute substitute was met by boos from some supporters following his transfer links with Manchester City, but also cheers from others who sang his name.
The key talking points from Stamford Bridge
- Xabi Alonso deploys a 3-4-3 formation for a third successive match.
- Morgan Rogers scores 10 minutes into his Chelsea debut after £117m move.
- Marco Palestra struggles at left-wing back amid Chelsea's poor first-half performance.
- Chelsea improve in the second half with Joao Pedro scoring twice but is their only recognised striker.
- Enzo Fernandez comes on to boos and cheers from home supporters after Man City links.
Is 3-4-3 the way forward for Chelsea now?
Alonso fielded a 4-2-3-1 in Chelsea's first three pre-season games but after switching to 3-4-3 against AC Milan - their best performance of the summer in a 3-0 win - it appears he could stick with it heading into their opening match.
His 3-4-3 formation is so fluid that at times against Real Sociedad it looked like Chelsea were playing with a four-man defence, with Moises Caicedo dropping into the back line to collect the ball and Wesley Fofana pushed wide on the right.
But the clue was in Chelsea's defending: wing-backs Pedro Neto and Marco Palaestra were penned into a back five, while Rogers and Cole Palmer operated as inside forwards. Three at the back also suits Maxence Lacroix, who mastered the middle centre-back position at Crystal Palace.
Alonso's system did have clear issues in the first half. Chelsea sat too deep, unable to get out of their half while struggling to press Sociedad. When they tried to, the distances to their opponents were too great to cover. The difference after the break was how high Chelsea played, making their press easier and putting pressure on Sociedad. The back three dominated the ball on the halfway line and Palestra and Neto forced the wingers back.
The formation remains a work in progress for now and Alonso has the flexibility within his squad to change to a four-man defence should he want to, but even when he made a flurry of substitutions in the second half, the back three remained.
Fernandez booed and cheered in bizarre reception
Sky Sports' Charlotte Marsh:
Enzo Fernandez received a mixed reception in his appearance in pre-season less than 24 hours after Manchester City missed Chelsea's self-imposed 5pm deadline to bid for the midfielder.
It is now expected Fernandez will stay at Chelsea for the 2026/27 season with Real Madrid having also been linked after the midfielder's own admission in April that he would like to move to Madrid one day - comments that saw him dropped from the first team for two games.
Then, there were Argentina's antics at the World Cup, in which Fernandez was involved, especially against England and Spain - the home countries of the two teams playing on Saturday.
That said, it's hard to tell exactly who was booing and why. Was it the international connection? Or were some Chelsea fans disgruntled that he has been linked with direct rivals?
There were cheers for him as well and the booing decreased as the game went on. By the end, fans were chanting 'Oh Enzo Fernandez' more than anything.
What is true, though, is Fernandez remains key for Chelsea and is likely central to Alonso's thinking. The best way he can truly get the Blues back onside is by performing on the pitch.
Pedro will need help - but right now, it doesn't look like it's coming
Joao Pedro is in red-hot form heading into the new season. The striker has put his World Cup snub behind him and responded with seven goals in five appearances. He is undoubtedly Chelsea's first-choice No 9 but that is partly due to their lack of options.
Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap were absent from the squad on Saturday amid doubts over their futures at the club, while Danny Welbeck also wasn't included.
It meant Pedro was the only recognised striker available to Alonso, forcing him to risk the forward for the full 90 minutes. Despite having no European football this season, Chelsea cannot afford to rely solely on Pedro and 35-year-old Danny Welbeck.
Delap's potential departure once again raises questions over Chelsea's recruitment strategy. Jackson, who played a key role during Palmer's best seasons, has shown he can shoulder some of the attacking burden. Yet for all the club's transfer activity, they still look short in a crucial area.
What's next?
Chelsea's Premier League campaign begins at Fulham in the first Monday Night Football of the season at 8pm on August 24, live on Sky Sports.
Chelsea's pre-season results
July 28: Chelsea 6-4 Western Sydney Wanderers - Sydney August 1: Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham - Sydney August 5: Chelsea 0-1 Juventus - Hong Kong August 8: Chelsea 3-0 AC Milan - Jakarta August 9: Johor Darul Ta'zim 3-3 Chelsea - Johor August 15: Chelsea 3-1 Real Sociedad - Stamford Bridge
