How Chelsea struggled against a little-known Western Sydney despite winning
By Joel Masibo, July 28, 2026Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has admitted that the Blues struggled to adapt despite a thrilling pre-season triumph over Western Sydney Wanderers.
Looking back at the general performance displayed by the team, Alonso noted that Chelsea need to improve in some areas despite finding the back of the net six times against their opponents.
“I think that this friendly is going to be useful for the future,” said Alonso. “There were moments in the game that we were struggling to find solutions, and we need to have this experience,” he stated.
How they struggled
According to Alonso, the Blues struggled against Western Sydney Wanderers, especially when they were pressing high. The gaffer admitted that Chelsea hard to dig deep to break that high press.
“The positive is that we corrected them, but these moments of game management are something we can learn from today,” the coach stated.
“When they were pressing so high, it was tough to find a solution from inside. We have to have a different understanding of what’s happening and try to make those changes in the game, as it’s something that will happen often,” he explained.
Nonetheless, Alonso insisted that the struggle was key to improving their general performance before the league starts.
“The more situations we have where we are struggling and we find the solutions, the better team we will be. So, for that, this friendly will be useful,” the gaffer maintained.
Plenty of entertainment
Alonso’s first game in charge of the Blues delivered plenty of entertainment, with Chelsea edging the Australian outfit 6-4 in a 10-goal contest to begin their pre-season tour on a winning note on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Dastan Satpayev gave Chelsea an early advantage after just five minutes, but Western Sydney Wanderers responded by turning the match around with two goals. Dario Essugo restored parity before the interval with a well-crafted finish, leaving the teams level at the break.
The action continued at a frantic pace after halftime. Chelsea’s momentum shifted following the introduction of several experienced players shortly after the hour mark. Jamie Gittens found the net soon after entering the pitch, while Joao Pedro stole the spotlight by scoring three goals in just nine minutes to secure victory in the Sydney Super Cup opener.
Alonso’s reflections
Reflecting on the performance, Alonso explained why the match was an important learning experience.
“So, no injuries, the young players having a good experience of coming on the tour and playing minutes, the senior players came on for good minutes and made a good impact, and it was an exciting game for the fans as well.”
Although most of Chelsea’s senior players featured during the match, Romeo Lavia did not take part. Alonso revealed the midfielder had experienced a minor hamstring issue and the coaching staff decided not to risk him.
“He felt something in the hamstring,” Alonso explained.
“Not a big thing and, hopefully, we are expecting him to be fit for Saturday [against Tottenham Hotspur]. But there was no point in taking risks today, which is why Reggie Watson played 90 minutes and did well.”