Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso praises Cole Palmer's "responsibility, maturity and freedom" after a goal and an assist from the playmaker seals a 3-2 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage. In Alonso's first Premier League match in charge, the Spaniard insists his new squad can achieve "special things" this season. The failure to replace Robert Sánchez remains a mystery but the new-look front three should buy time for the new manager’s principles to bed in After a weekend on which pretty much every potential challenger to Arsenal had demonstrated their flaws , there was a sense, perhaps even a need, for Chelsea to emerge as a serious contender – if only to prevent the title race becoming a procession. Aggregated from Alonso on Palmer, Guardian Football.

Sources

1. 'To have a good team, we need a great Cole' Alonso on Palmer
2. Glaring weakness in goal remains but early signs Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea should be fun | Jonathan Wilson Guardian Football