Xabi Alonso has made it clear that he intends to adopt a flexible tactical approach when integrating the club‑record signing Morgan Rogers into Chelsea’s lineup, especially as the Blues prepare for their Premier League opener against Fulham on Monday Night Football. Rogers, who arrived at Stamford Bridge this summer for a staggering £117 million transfer from Aston Villa, is expected to make his competitive debut in that match. The 24‑year‑old forward impressed in his first unofficial outing, finding the net in a friendly win over Real Sociedad. However, questions have already emerged about how his playing style will mesh with Alonso’s philosophy, which has been built around possession‑based football, a contrast to the more direct, counter‑attacking approach traditionally employed by Villa.
Additionally, fans and pundits have speculated about Rogers’ chemistry with fellow England international Cole Palmer, whose trademark "Cold Palmer" celebration has become a talking point. Rogers himself expressed enthusiasm last week, saying he was "relishing" the chance to link up with his country‑mate at the club. Speaking ahead of the west London derby at Craven Cottage, Alonso emphasized that adaptability will be a hallmark of his management.
"When we need to have good control, I think Morgan can do it. Our game is whatever it takes.
So when we have to do transition, we will do transition," he told Sky Sports. "All the other players need to understand what it takes because this is to be competitive." He continued, "You have a plan, you have an idea, you have a style, but sometimes the game demands something different.
Are you able to adapt to that and be competitive in that momentum as well? If we can understand that and execute it, we will win more games." Alonso also highlighted the importance of tactical versatility: "We tend to, more than in one specific picture, have principles when we are moving around the pitch. Those can be in one formation or a different formation.
We have players who have enough flexibility to play in different ones. So that gives us possibilities to prepare with our own identity." Beyond Rogers, one of Alonso’s biggest challenges will be unlocking the full potential of Cole Palmer.
After a dazzling debut season at Chelsea, Palmer’s form has dipped over the past two years, prompting the new manager to reassess how best to utilize the talented No 10. "Different players need different connections and Cole, for sure, he's very analytical," Alonso noted. "I think that he's smart.
You need to give him his space to connect, but I'm really enjoying it because he's top‑talented and with little, he understands a lot, so it's been very interesting." The conversation about formations has also dominated pre‑season chatter. Alonso’s preferred three‑man defence, which served him well during Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten domestic campaign in 2023/24, has been a recurring theme. While he abandoned the back‑three at Real Madrid, recent training sessions suggest he is gravitating back toward it for Chelsea. Nevertheless, he stressed that he will not be rigidly attached to any single system.
"Lots of teams play three at the back in certain parts of the game. You see each team has to be sophisticated to prepare for each game and know what they're going to do because each team prepares so well," he explained. What matters most to Alonso, however, is the "soul" of the squad. He believes that beyond tactics and individual skill, team spirit and collective energy are the true drivers of success.
"Above the football qualities, above the tactics, for me it's the soul of the team, the team spirit. We are able to connect, to have this good energy that we share," he said.
"This is a process, it's not one day you create that, but we start feeling it and we start enjoying it. That will be for me the strongest force and strength of this team." Alonso acknowledges that building this culture takes time.
"When you focus on one thing, you tend to improve those things. When you don't focus that much, maybe those things are not important. But for me, this is very important.
This is a process, it takes time, but I'm sure that what we started will get better with the games," he added. As the Blues gear up for the Fulham clash, fans can tune in to Monday Night Football at 8 pm on Sky Sports to see how the new manager’s ideas translate onto the pitch. The match will also provide an early indicator of how Rogers adapts to the Premier League’s intensity and how Palmer responds to Alonso’s renewed tactical guidance.
Both players represent key pieces of Alonso’s vision for a dynamic, adaptable Chelsea side capable of competing at the highest level. The upcoming fixture promises not only an exciting showdown in west London but also a glimpse into the evolving identity of a Chelsea team that is seeking to blend star power with a cohesive, flexible playing philosophy.