Joao Pedro's Hat-Trick Shines in Alonso's Chelsea Debut
Xabi Alonso’s first night in the Chelsea dugout belonged to one man. Joao Pedro was untouchable.
Nine minutes. Three goals. A ruthless hat-trick that ripped through Western Sydney Wanderers and turned a pre-season run-out at Accor Stadium into a personal showcase. Chelsea won 6-4, the scoreline wild enough, but the real story was the Brazilian forward who played like a man with a point to prove.
Left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad, Joao Pedro looked like he’d brought that snub with him onto the pitch. He ran with anger, finished with clarity, and bullied defenders with power and pace that the A-League side simply could not live with. Every time he squared up a marker, the gap between Premier League and A-League football felt brutally obvious.
Alonso did not hide his admiration afterwards, describing him as “very, very hungry” and “determined to have a great season”. On this evidence, he may be the pillar around which the new manager builds his attack.
A triallist announces himself
If Joao Pedro was the star, he wasn’t the first name on the night’s highlights reel.
That honour went to Dastan Satpaev. Six minutes into Alonso’s reign, the 17-year-old Kazakhstan forward stepped in from the left and unleashed a spectacular strike to score the first goal of the new era. One touch to set, one swing of the boot, and Chelsea were off.
The twist? Satpaev is not even officially a Chelsea player yet.
Still a triallist, he cannot complete his move from FC Kairat to Stamford Bridge until 12 August, but he played with the freedom of someone who knows he belongs at this level. In a performance short on control and defensive assurance, his confidence and directness stood out alongside Joao Pedro’s brilliance.
Delap’s struggle and a looming decision
For Liam Delap, the night told a very different story.
While Joao Pedro and Satpaev thrived, Delap laboured again. The £30m signing from Ipswich has rarely looked settled in a Chelsea shirt, and this was another outing where his touch, timing and belief all seemed off. Runs came late, chances went begging, and his body language told its own tale.
Chelsea are no longer waiting for this to fix itself. The club are advancing talks to sign Danny Welbeck from Brighton, with the 35-year-old having agreed personal terms. The message is clear: experience is coming, and Delap’s place is under serious threat.
A sale now feels increasingly likely. For a young striker already short of confidence, the prospect of Welbeck arriving as an “experienced replacement” sharpens the edges of an already uncomfortable situation.
Brighton are refusing to comment publicly, but inside Chelsea there is optimism that a deal can be done. If it is, Delap’s time at Stamford Bridge could prove painfully brief.
Alonso’s Chelsea still rough around the edges
Strip away the goals and the romance of a new manager’s first night, and this was a messy, imperfect performance.
Chelsea’s defending lurched between casual and chaotic. The effects of jet lag were visible in heavy legs and lapses in concentration, and the team never truly controlled the game. Western Sydney Wanderers found space, found chances, and scored four times to underline how far Alonso’s work has to go.
The attacking fireworks masked structural issues. The passing was loose, the press uneven, and the balance of the side still miles from what Alonso will demand once the season starts. This was entertainment, not a blueprint.
He knows it. The transfer plans prove it.
Experience targeted after a bruising season
Welbeck is not the only veteran on Chelsea’s radar. The club are also in talks to sign Jordan Henderson, 36, from Brentford as they search for leadership and know-how after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.
Alonso was asked directly about the pursuit of older players. His answer was pointed: “We need balance, to have a complete squad and make a good team. For that, we have an idea and plan.”
That balance is exactly what Chelsea lacked last season. Now, with a teenager scoring as a triallist, a £30m striker fading, a 35-year-old target man lined up, and a 36-year-old midfielder in negotiations, Alonso’s plan is starting to take shape in public.
On night one, the new manager saw the extremes of his squad laid bare: raw talent, brittle confidence, glaring flaws and one forward playing like he wants to drag the whole project with him.
If Joao Pedro keeps this edge, and if the experience Alonso wants actually arrives, how quickly can Chelsea’s chaos be turned into something far more dangerous?
