Chabi Alonso: Victory is Key, But There's Still Work and Learning Ahead

Chelsea manager Chabi Alonso expressed his satisfaction with the dramatic 4-3 victory over Brighton but emphasized that his team still has a long way to go and valuable lessons to learn. The Blues had established a comfortable 3-0 lead but allowed their opponents back into the game, prompting the coach to remain grounded.

“The most important thing is the feeling of victory – to enjoy it. However, so much happened in the match. We had a fantastic start, going 3-0 up with really good play and posing a constant threat. But then we couldn't keep possession enough. We played a bit to the scoreline, and the context of the numbers on the scoreboard was a consequence of what was happening on the pitch. It's good that we're doing everything necessary to win. That's what we want in the end. This process takes time – we will continue to work and learn. The feeling of two wins in two matches is great, but we must keep moving forward,” Alonso shared.

The Spanish tactician remained focused despite his players' strong attacking start.

“I'm not excited; I'm focused on the things we needed to do at 3-0. We played to the score, but we wanted to continue imposing our game. We conceded a goal to make it 3-1, and when you go into halftime with such a lead, you have to stay alert. In the second half, we missed another clear chance through Cole Palmer. We will conduct the necessary analysis, but now it's time to enjoy it a little,” the specialist added.

Asked whether the team needed to focus on psychological or tactical details, Alonso replied: “Both. This is part of what we need to experience and learn. Definitely. We are still in the early stages for this team, which is just coming together. The pieces of the puzzle are fitting with good energy and the right attitude. I want to tell the lads: 'Great start, but we need to keep it up.' In the end, they fought and showed great team spirit. For me, that unity and the support from the fans in difficult moments are almost as important to build as the footballing ideas themselves.”

The manager also commented on the debut of new goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, the transfer window, and the injury to substitute Moises Caicedo.

“If we keep more clean sheets, we will win more games. With Emi, we get a top character and a top goalkeeper, which will help the development of the entire squad. The most important thing is to do everything with the best interests of the team in mind. Whatever happens in the market, we will be happy with the squad we have. As for Moises – he was cautious, stopped himself, and said he wasn't feeling 100%. We will assess his condition during the week. It's nothing new,” Alonso concluded.