Fulham discovered exactly what the attacking trio Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers of are capable of at Craven Cottage on Monday evening. It was far less of a surprise for Blues manager Xabi Alonso, who believes the trio can inspire their Chelsea team-mates throughout the campaign.
Palmer’s qualities are well known to Chelsea supporters; the 24-year-old has showcased them throughout his time at Stamford Bridge. Joao Pedro, who scored 20 goals and was named Player of the Season, has also demonstrated his talents on countless occasions. Rogers’ addition came earlier this summer and he has needed little time to adapt to life at Chelsea.
Alonso deployed the three from the start against Fulham. Within 31 seconds, Palmer had teed up Joao Pedro to open the scoring. Rogers then opened his account in blue – sweeping home after good work from fellow signing Maxence Lacroix – and Joao Pedro returned the favour in the second period for Palmer, who netted his first of the campaign from an acute angle.
Their goals proved decisive, with the Blues coming away from our west London neighbours with a 3-2 victory. And Alonso, while insisting he would not construct a team around the trio, emphasised what Palmer, Joao Pedro and Rogers can bring to the Chelsea side.
He said: ‘They are going to be a very important part, but to build around them, no, it’s to build a team with them. They need to take responsibility, they need to lead the rest, they need to inspire the rest, because if they do great, the others will follow.
'We need to use them in the best possible situations and we need to have good links to reach them and they need to help the team be solid. The three of them, they have played for the team and scored, and that’s always important for the forwards.’
Palmer’s display on the banks of the Thames was particularly encouraging. For much of the previous campaign, he struggled with injury. It inhibited his game, with the England international admitting he wasn’t sure from one day to the next whether he would be in discomfort.
Yet against Fulham, having had the summer off, Palmer appeared back to his fluid best. He weaved effortlessly beyond challenges and, while scoring and fashioning chances for team-mates, was also hugely impressive without the ball.
Naturally, Alonso was pleased for the Blues’ No.10, and highlighted the influence Palmer can have when enjoying his football.
He said: ‘I am very happy for Cole because I have really enjoyed seeing him play with this dynamism, with this freedom, with this responsibility, helping the team, and feeling important. We need that for the team. If Cole feels this way, we will have a better team and a better Chelsea.
'I am happy for him that he enjoyed his game, and you can see that.’