Xabi Alonso's Chelsea start strong up front but goalkeeper woes persist

Xabi Alonso experienced a mix of triumph and unease in his first Premier League matchday in charge of Chelsea. The Spanish coach secured victory in a chaotic encounter at Craven Cottage, a result that hinted at exactly where his project is heading: a thrilling attack paired with a goalkeeping problem that continues to haunt the club regardless of who is in the dugout.

• Chelsea won a five-goal thriller against Fulham in Alonso's league debut
• Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers formed an exciting front three
• Maxence Lacroix and Jorrel Hato impressed on their first appearances in defence
• Robert Sanchez made costly errors that nearly cost Chelsea the points
• Alonso publicly backed his goalkeeper despite the glaring mistakes

An attack showing genuine signs of menace

Chelsea's summer spending and some surprising squad decisions appear to be shaping one of the most fearsome attacking trios in the league. Morgan Rogers, whose transfer fee topped £100 million, showed flashes that justified at least part of that price tag. Cole Palmer, determined to prove a point after missing out on a major international tournament and coming off a subpar campaign by his own standards, looked like a genuine matchwinner again. His understanding with Joao Pedro clicked almost instantly, causing problems from the opening minutes.

Alonso made clear he isn't building the team purely around this trio, but rather building it with them as leaders. He wants them to take on responsibility and drag their teammates up to their level, believing the rest of the squad will follow suit if the front three continue producing performances like the one seen at Craven Cottage.

The debutants who impressed at the back

It wasn't only the attack that caught the eye. Maxence Lacroix put in a commanding display on his debut, capped by an unexpected assist for Rogers, within a back three that still has room for improvement but showed genuine solidity. Jorrel Hato, deployed at left wing-back, also stood out for his attacking instincts, a quality that fits perfectly with the tactical demands Alonso wants to instill throughout the squad.

A midfield waiting on Caicedo and Enzo

Neither Enzo Fernandez nor Moises Caicedo started the match, which left some question marks in the middle of the park. Still, Alonso was pleased to hear the crowd chanting the Argentine's name again, even if it was drowned out by boos from sections of the home support still holding a grudge from the World Cup. The coach is keen to move forward with Fernandez in the squad, and he looks set to stay barring a late twist in the transfer saga, while only injury is likely to keep Caicedo from controlling Chelsea's midfield, as he did at the Cottage.

What Chelsea's Robert Sanchez problem means for the rebuild

Yet one issue continues to plague Chelsea regardless of manager or system. Alonso's return to the Premier League nearly went wrong because of the man between the posts. Robert Sanchez produced another erratic display, littered with the kind of errors that have become his trademark. Josh King's equaliser, which the Spanish goalkeeper inexplicably allowed in at his near post, carried an expected-goals value of just 0.07, the lowest of any goal scored that weekend in the league. He then handed the hosts another chance by parrying a Timothy Castagne effort straight into the path of Gonzalo Garcia.

Despite Chelsea's heavy spending elsewhere, Sanchez remains the weak link, with nobody in the squad yet emerging as a clear replacement. Twenty-one-year-old Mike Penders could eventually provide the long-sought solution between the posts, though throwing him straight into the starting XI would run counter to Chelsea's efforts to move away from relying on unready youngsters, a plan that already backfired with Filip Jorgensen last season.

"It's about the team, not about one individual. We can defend better on the first goal, but that's part of learning and part of the process. We need to stay calm and carry on," Alonso said after the match.

Why patience matters in Alonso's rebuild

Alonso needs time to carry out his reconstruction of the squad. Expecting him to turn a team that finished tenth last season into a title contender within a single campaign is an unreasonable demand, even if that appears to be the expectation inside Stamford Bridge's boardroom. That's why there shouldn't be an overreaction whenever a player underperforms during these early weeks of the process. Levi Colwill and Romeo Lavia, both of whom have had their development disrupted by injuries, also struggled against Fulham, further proof that this rebuild will take time.

Sanchez's case, however, is different: he is entering his fourth season as Chelsea's first-choice goalkeeper, and patience is wearing thin. The club escaped unscathed this time, but the looming question is what happens the next time he errs at a crucial moment.

Unlike previous managers under the BlueCo ownership, Alonso will have genuine influence over whether this latest Sanchez blunder prompts a late move in the transfer market. Emiliano Martinez remains an available and familiar option should the club choose to act. Still, the calm tone Alonso struck when discussing his goalkeeper suggests he won't rush into any personnel changes for now, a stance that could end up shaping the success of his crucial first year in charge.