The Chelsea Portsmouth friendly ended in a 2-0 defeat for Chelsea at Cobham, but the result was not the main concern for Xabi Alonso as he used the behind-closed-doors fixture for several important objectives.
Chelsea faced the Championship side on Saturday during the international break, with Alonso using the game primarily as a training exercise ahead of the return of domestic football.
With several senior players away on international duty, the fixture gave the Chelsea manager an opportunity to increase the workload of players returning from injury while also continuing his tactical preparations.
The match also provided valuable minutes for younger players, with Alonso already demonstrating his willingness to trust teenagers when circumstances require them.
Chelsea Lose 2-0 to Portsmouth
Chelsea’s defeat was not treated in the same manner as a competitive fixture because of the circumstances surrounding the game.
The Blues were missing a number of players because of international commitments, while others have been managing fitness problems during Alonso’s first months in charge.
The main focus was therefore on player recovery, tactical work and development rather than the final score.
The friendly also allowed Alonso to assess players who have not had regular competitive minutes and potentially accelerate the return of some members of his squad.
That was particularly important during an international break that provided the manager with an extended period to address several weaknesses before Chelsea resume their Premier League campaign.
Alonso Gives Young Players Opportunity
The fixture also reflected Alonso’s willingness to integrate Chelsea’s young players into the first-team environment.
The manager has previously shown that he is prepared to introduce teenagers when squad circumstances demand it, particularly when experienced players are unavailable or when additional energy is required.
Alonso explained his thinking after Chelsea’s recent Premier League defeat to Brentford.
“Yeah, [with [it] 2-0 [to Brentford] we brought Madhi [Nicoll-Jazuli], that he has great energy, that at the moment in the middle we were short of numbers. The other ones are Geo [Quenda] and Estevao.”
Alonso added that the young players had already been properly prepared within the squad.
“Yeah, because they have been trained well, they are part of the squad, so everyone that is part of the squad but before we were playing for 75 minutes with a squad with experience and that we have had good things but not for long enough time to compete for the better result.”
The comments underline the importance of academy and young-player development to Alonso’s plans as he manages a squad containing several highly rated youngsters.
Chelsea Defensive Problems Remain
Beyond fitness and player development, the break also offered Alonso an opportunity to address one of Chelsea’s biggest problems: their defensive record.
Chelsea had conceded 12 goals in their opening five Premier League matches, the highest total in the division at that stage.
The Blues had conceded at least twice in every league match, while their defensive problems were also exposed during the Carabao Cup when they conceded three goals against Leeds United.
The statistics have made defensive improvement an obvious priority for Alonso as he attempts to establish greater consistency at Stamford Bridge.
The absence of Moises Caicedo has not helped Chelsea’s midfield stability, while Cole Palmer, Reece James and Marco Palestra have also dealt with injury problems during the early part of the campaign.
The behind-closed-doors match consequently provided an opportunity for some players to step up their recovery and potentially give Alonso additional options.
Chelsea Injury Situation
Joao Pedro was another player whose fitness became a concern after he withdrew from the Brazil squad before Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Brentford.
The forward has been dealing with a knee problem and was understood to have been seeing a specialist during the extended international break.
Jamie Gittens also suffered an issue while representing England Under-21s and was seen leaving the stadium on crutches, adding another complication to Chelsea’s squad management.
The number of fitness concerns has made the international break particularly valuable for Alonso, who can use the period to monitor injured players without the immediate pressure of Premier League fixtures.
If several of those players return to full fitness, Chelsea could have significantly greater depth when domestic football resumes.
Chelsea’s Mixed Start Under Alonso
The Chelsea Portsmouth friendly comes during a mixed beginning to Alonso’s tenure at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea recorded Premier League victories over Fulham and Brighton but subsequently suffered defeats against Arsenal and Brentford.
A home draw with Hull City added another frustrating result, leaving Alonso’s side 10th in the Premier League after five matches.
Chelsea have also made progress in the Carabao Cup, securing victories over Luton Town and Leeds United to reach the fourth round.
The reward is a difficult trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, while the Premier League schedule also includes matches against Bournemouth, Everton and Tottenham.
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Alonso Has Three Weeks to Improve Chelsea
The international break has therefore given Alonso an important window to work on Chelsea’s weaknesses before the intensity of the domestic schedule returns.
The defeat to Portsmouth may appear concerning at first glance, but the circumstances mean the scoreline provides limited information about Chelsea’s competitive level.
Instead, Alonso’s priorities were centred on increasing the workload of returning players, testing tactical ideas, improving defensive organisation and giving young players further exposure to senior football.
That makes the friendly particularly useful for a manager attempting to establish his methods while dealing with injuries and a squad containing several developing players.
Chelsea’s defensive record remains the most obvious area requiring attention, with conceding 12 goals in five Premier League games highlighting the scale of the challenge.
Alonso will now hope the work completed during the break translates into stronger performances when competitive football resumes.
Chelsea’s next Premier League fixtures against Bournemouth, Everton and Tottenham will provide a much clearer indication of whether the manager has succeeded in addressing the problems exposed during the opening weeks.
The Chelsea Portsmouth friendly may have ended with a 2-0 defeat, but for Alonso, the more important outcome was the opportunity to work on fitness, tactics, defensive weaknesses and the development of the next generation of Chelsea players.
