Chelsea Analysis and Updates ii

Directions

Chelsea Analysis and Updates ii Chelsea news and updates

07/10/2026

🚨⚽️ Laurence Stewart will leave Chelsea as co-sporting director by mutual consent. Not an immediate departure, so still expected to be around at some games.

Amicable exit that was decided in the last few weeks following talks between Stewart and Behdad Eghbali.

Paul Winstanley, Sam Jewell and Joe Shields will now all be sporting directors on equal footing.

Winstanley has responsibility for all areas including transfer negotiations, player contracts and different Cobham departments (Medical, Performance, Operations etc.).

Shields oversees the Academy and player pathways and many of his day-to-day tasks align with a traditional technical director.

Jewell also has wider responsabilities across Strasbourg/BlueCo.

Seen as a natural evolution of the sporting model, with discussions over a new structure starting in April and accelerating following the arrival of Xabi Alonso. Eghbali had said in April, "You tweak a model, you improve, you learn...".

Stewart had overseen investment in data analysis, but this area of the business has been used more by Jewell and Shields due to their expertise in scouting and talent ID.

Dave Fallows remains in his current role, which is more remote and advisory comparative to others in the sporting leadership team.

(Source: Various)

|

📲

11/09/2026

🎙Xabi Alonso's Full Pre-Hull City Press Conference:

🔹Xabi Alonso on Palmer and Rogers arguing over PotM award: "It's good they both feel entitled to this award. They are both enjoying themselves playing with each other. They enjoy it when the other one is doing good things for the team. We have a good partnership there, as well with Joao linking with them."

🔹Xabi Alonso on Palmer and Rogers' relationship helping them on the pitch: "I would say a lot. Even before playing together, they were so connected. For sure, we were following this connection to happen before the transfer happened. Cole was very influential and played an important role."

🔹 Xabi Alonso on Hull manager's comments on 'kicking' Chelsea players: "Let's not talk about those words, it's impossible. We go into tomorrow's game with the same respect as we did vs Arsenal. They will be hard to beat. They have the belief, the coach is doing a great job. It will be hard."

🔹Xabi Alonso on finding the balance in the team: "That's the goal. The focus, the work, this is the process. We want to be more competitive. We want to be as good, or even better, in attack because I think there's room for improvement. We also don't want to concede as many goals. We are competing well, but there are some things we can do better, for sure. The key part is to create chances to win games, and not to concede as many chances."

🔹Xabi Alonso on if Caicedo is ready vs Hull City: "Not yet. We'll see for Brentford. We're not at a moment to take risks with him. Not yet, not yet."

🔹Xabi Alonso on if Palestra, Henderson and Emegha are fit: "No, no, no."

🔹Xabi Alonso on Hull's start to the season: "Why not? They deserve to be where they are. They have played against United, Coventry and Villa, and they've done it really well. They've built a clear idea of what they want, how they want to compete. The mentality, they want to fight with everything."

🔹Xabi Alonso on Henderson and Emegha latest: "Not tomorrow. We hope they

11/09/2026

Pedro Neto on his new Chelsea contract: “It’s an unbelievable moment.

From when I arrived, I have always felt like the people here helped me a lot. I feel like home here, I feel like I want to achieve more things here.

I have had some good moments here as a group and as an individual, and now I want to have more of those moments. I’m really excited because I think we can achieve a lot of things together.”

(via Chelsea FC)

11/09/2026

BREAKING: Chelsea have rewarded Pedro Neto with a new contract. He has signed a five-year deal with the option of an extra year and will receive a pay rise.

[via Guardian Sport]

09/09/2026

🚨 Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers have a combined 12 G/A between them in 5 games so far in the 2026/27 season. Rogers 7 G/A, Palmer 5 G/A 🤝 🔵

| |

📲

08/09/2026

🚨🔵 are not missing Enzo Fernandez in an attacking sense and they feel his lack of mobility in midfield was not suited for Alonso’s football.

Chelsea tried to replace him and looked at names like Alex Scott, Adam Wharton, Manu Kone & Lamine Camara.

The plan is to go again in January.

(guardian_sport)

08/09/2026


were able to score from a set piece after just 1:17, putting them ahead at the Emirates and creating the exact scenario we saw against Fulham and Brighton: Arsenal conceding early, then having to chase the game.

That’s not usually ’s script.

They don’t often fall behind early, and they’re not usually forced to come from behind to win. So today, I want to break down exactly what happened: the intentions of both teams, how Arsenal responded after conceding, what Alonso was trying to create—and what he expected from Arteta.

We’ll start with Arsenal in possession: the problems they created for Chelsea, where those problems came from, and how Arsenal repeatedly found ways to manipulate Chelsea’s defensive structure.

08/09/2026

Chelsea vs Arsenal - Building into overloads

Against Chelsea, Arsenal were able to build out against Chelsea’s press, find sustained possession in wide areas and create chances through wide movements/rotations/combinations

▫️ in more of a 4-4-2 higher press -> midblock - with Rogers being dragged away by Ben White’s positioning, Arsenal were often able to find Declan Rice spare dropping between Konsa and White as the +1 in the build

▫️This often allowed Arsenal to build out through Chelsea’s press (-1) - then able to carry the ball into sustained possession on the sides

▫️ then created 5v4 overloads down the right, with Havertz drifting over, Odegaard floating and interchanging positions, Saka, White and Rice beneath - this created tensions for Chelsea’s wide management if they wanted to apply pressure to the ball, as Rogers was tracking White, James had Odegaard rolling across (distance to Rice too large at times) and then Fofana and Hato with Saka and Havertz (or Odegaard if he rotated high to pin Fofana)

02/09/2026

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who stuck with us throughout this exhausting summer transfer window. 😭🤝

It’s been a long, stressful and sometimes chaotic ride, but your support, engagement and patience kept us going. From all the admins, we genuinely appreciate every single one of you. 💙

Now… we can finally breathe. 😂💙

01/09/2026

🔵💣 Lamine Camara currently undergoing a medical under Chelsea staff supervision.

Chelsea and AS Monaco are preparing all documents in order to sign in time but all parties optimistic.

to pay €55m as revealed, contract until June 2032 plus option. 🇸🇳

Address

London

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Chelsea Analysis and Updates ii posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category