Maresca, Rosenior and now Alonso: The Chelsea issue that can't be fixed

Updated: 10 Sept 2026 09:24 BST | 5 min read

Xabi Alonso, Enzo Maresca, Liam Rosenior — © IMAGO

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

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Chelsea are a bundle of fun. They may not prove to be serious challengers for the very top honours this season, but there is no denying they are the team to watch in 2026-27.

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In their five fixtures across all competitions so far this term, the Blues have scored 16 goals and conceded 10 - with an average of 5.2 goals per game. For matchgoing fans, they’re certainly getting bang for their buck.

Xabi Alonso has an attacking roster that every manager in world football would dream of coaching and before he figures out a way to balance their forward thrust with defensive solidity, Chelsea games aren’t to be missed.

Speaking after his side’s 6-3 win over Leeds United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, Alonso told the Chelsea website: “We need to keep working on the good things and keep on improving other things. We want to have better balance, to be more solid, to be able to win in a boring game as well, if that happens.”

Something radical will need to change for that to actually happen, though.

🅰️🅰️🅰️🅰️

What a performance, Morgan! 👏#CFC | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/Py9gJMVayv
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 10, 2026

Chelsea simply look blistering in attack, shaky in defence and non-existent in midfield. Mix that together and you get a team who may fall just short of glory this season, but they’ll have a jolly good time along the way.

On Wednesday night, however, Alonso learned a crucial lesson that Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior will be all too familiar with: Chelsea’s reserve team simply isn’t good enough.

On paper, the Blues’ back-up options look solid. Estevao Willian is one of the best young talents in the world, Jamie Gittens can be electric on his day and Malo Gusto has proven his credentials as a Premier League quality player over the past three seasons. You wouldn’t have guessed it on Wednesday, though.

1-0 down at half-time and devoid of any creativity in attack, Alonso turned to the cavalry. Reece James, Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto all came on at half-time and while Chelsea were soon 2-0 down thanks to a Brenden Aaronson goal, they roared back with a mesmeric attacking performance.

Rogers grabbed four assists, Palmer netted twice and Neto added immense verve down the right flank, in addition to his second goal of the season.

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Cole Palmer

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Cole Palmer

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When asked about the disparity in quality between his first and second choice XI, Alonso said: “I prefer not to take that cynical [view], and I know probably I haven’t taken the right decisions for them to show their best level. It is something I will learn from today.”

However, deep down, he will be aware that he can’t rely on his fringe stars to perform. And it’s not a new phenomenon at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have a cup problem

Last season, Chelsea’s second-string XI laboured to narrow victories over Lincoln City, Cardiff City and Wrexham in cup competitions, with the Blues often required to turn to their more established stars to overcome adversity versus lesser opposition.

In an ideal world, Alonso would’ve used Wednesday night to give Palmer and Rogers, in particular, a well-earned rest ahead of their Premier League clash against Hull City on Saturday.

That simply wasn’t possible.

Of course, the pair will be buoyed by their rampant displays, but Chelsea need them to be fresh for the league. The unfortunate reality, however, is that Alonso can’t trust his back-up options to perform and this could take its toll later down the line.

© IMAGO - Cole Palmer has scored four goals so far this season

Over the past few years, Chelsea - to an extent that no other team in world football can match - have had a very clearly defined first and second XI. It was undoubtedly most prevalent during their triumphant Europa Conference League campaign, during which time Maresca split his squad in two, but it can still be seen to this day.

The Blues simply have a larger squad than most teams in Europe and while their first choice XI boasts some of the best players in the world, the same can’t be said for their second team.

The drop-off is notable, but their fringe stars need game time and cup competitions are the only viable option to achieve this. However, they have often flattered to deceive when given chances to impress, partly due to their lack of rhythm, and it’s an issue that Alonso is now familiar with.

There isn’t an easy solution, but Chelsea have a real problem in cup competitions against lesser opposition and Alonso is simply the latest manager to be tasked with fixing it.