Xabi Alonso Praises Cole Palmer, Taps Him as a Team Leader

New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has hailed Cole Palmer as a special talent, earmarking him as a pivotal player in the project he's set to build. The midfielder, a standout for the Blues, endured an injury-plagued and inconsistent campaign last season, ultimately costing him a spot in Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad. Despite this, Alonso has publicly demonstrated his faith in Palmer. Today, another English international, Morgan Rogers, underwent medicals at the London club. Experts anticipate that Palmer and Rogers will occupy the two crucial attacking midfield roles behind the striker in Xabi Alonso's preferred 3-4-3 formation.

“We’ve already had a few training sessions together, and from day one, you can see he’s a special talent. His qualities, his playing style, and his ability to make the right decisions when it matters are immediately apparent. I’m delighted he’s joined the squad in good spirits and with the right mindset to have a fantastic season. I’m looking forward to getting the best out of him. To build a strong team with the right stability, we need leaders, and Cole needs to be one of those players in an attacking sense,” Xabi Alonso stated.

The manager has already made his Chelsea debut, securing a 3-1 victory over Crawley Town in a behind-closed-doors friendly.