I have a plan for Rogers, Palmer partnership –Alonso
Chelsea coach Xabi Alonso has revealed that he has a plan to play new signing Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer together ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season.
Rogers joined Chelsea in a club record £117m deal last week to become the most expensive British player of all-time.
The English forward is currently on holidays after playing for England at the 2026 World Cup and he is expected to miss Chelsea’s tour of Australia.
Rogers can play as an attacking midfielder while Cole Palmer is also comfortable playing as a number 10.
Alonso has opened up on the club’s decision to sign Rogers and also his tactical plans for him to play alongside Palmer.
He said: “I have a plan. I have an idea. I can see them linking really well.
“We need to have a good mix. If we get that balance right and those special players in the right positions, with good control, then we will be more competitive with and without the ball.
“In that position we needed an important player and I’m sure there were not many better options than Morgan Rogers.
“You need players who can have that almost instant impact and I’m sure Morgan won’t need much time to adapt to the club, the system and his team-mates.
“That was the idea, to get a top player, and Morgan is one of them.”
Chelsea have enjoyed a busy summer under Xabi Alonso with Maxence Lacroix expected to be announced this week.
The French defender is expected to be Chelsea’s oldest signing since 2022 at the age of 26.
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Alonso reiterated the need for a squad with the right balance.
He said: “We want a squad with the right balance between quality and mentality.
“Those things need to match in terms of maturity, but I think we are starting the new season with good energy. That’s important.”
The former Real Madrid manager also revealed that the team is expected to be tactically flexible in the upcoming season.
Alonso concluded: “We will be flexible in our tactics, in our approaches, game plans.
“It’s not that I’m changing everything. It’s about updating. It’s about developing something that they have done with new concepts that each manager has.
“But the good thing is that many things that I like they have already done. So now it’s about changing or updating a few other things.
“We want to build a competitive team. We are in that process. We have great quality, great talent.
“We need to know what it takes to compete in the Premier League, and we want to have a squad with the right balance between quality and mentality.”
Chelsea will return to action against Western Sydney Wanderers in their first pre-season match in Australia on Tuesday.
The Blues will kick off their Premier League campaign on August 24 against Fulham at the Craven Cottage.
