Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Chelsea’s perfect yet unserious start to the Premier League season | Jonathan Wilson

theguardian.com · 14d · first reportShare

Xabi Alonso’s side have scored seven and conceded five in two wins so far, a product of the squad’s constant churn Sign up for our free newsletter here Two Premier League games played for Chelsea under Xabi Alonso: two wins and seven goals scored. It’s the sort of start that would delight many new managers – only two other clubs can boast about a six-point start this Premier League season (albeit with Arsenal to play later on Monday). Points gained in this odd transitional phase, when almost nobody seems quite ready, could prove extremely valuable come the end of the season. And yet, for all the attacking potency, there must also be concerns about Chelsea’s openness and the five goals conceded. Context must also be considered, and it projects both ways. It’s early in the season. There has been, as ever, a lot of change at Chelsea. They will get better; they will achieve greater coherence. But equally there has to be a sense of realism about the nature of the teams they’ve played. Brigh