{"id":19622,"date":"2026-07-21T14:50:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T14:50:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=19622"},"modified":"2026-07-21T14:50:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T14:50:34","slug":"the-marcelo-bielsa-system-xabi-alonso-could-use-to-combine-morgan-rogers-and-cole-palmer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=19622","title":{"rendered":"The Marcelo Bielsa system Xabi Alonso could use to combine Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-377945\">\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add as preferred source on Google<\/span>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Chelsea have pulled off a coup to land Morgan Rogers ahead of Arsenal and other interested sides. But one element of doubt remains: how will Chelsea combine Cole Palmer and their new record signing?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Rogers was spotted attending his medical on Monday, and confirmation of his record transfer to Chelsea is imminent. He has signed a deal until 2032, with the option of another year, ahead of a \u00a3117m transfer.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-grvmedia-grv-video GRVMultiVideo\"\/>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"a7ff3fe3-a05c-423f-9e8c-99ae14865441\" data-story-name=\"Chelsea Transfers\" data-comment-id=\"f547853c-9203-45a5-8904-93e45e77bef6\" data-story-slug=\"chelsea-transfers\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<p><h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">DISCUSS: In this current market, Rogers is a bargain \ud83d\udc40<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Match-report-819x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-377664\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Match-report-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Match-report-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Match-report-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Match-report-912x1140.png 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Match-report-600x750.png 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Match-report.png 1080w\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>During their pitch to Rogers, Chelsea pushed the left-wing role to the England star. However, there is no doubt that Rogers is best as a no.10, playing off the striker, as proven by his form in an Aston Villa shirt.<\/p>\n<p>But that is Palmer\u2019s role, and Xabi Alonso has already spoken about building a team around Palmer. The gaffer used a back four against Crawley on Saturday, so how can he combine it all into one formation?<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-marcelo-bielsa-s-leeds-united-system-can-be-alonso-solution\">Marcelo Bielsa\u2019s Leeds United system can be Alonso solution<\/h2>\n<p>While Enzo Fernandez remains a Chelsea player, the chances are he will leave the club before the end of the summer window. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid remain interested, even if he will cost \u00a3120m.<\/p>\n<p>Selling Fernandez would help Alonso utilise a system Marcelo Bielsa used with Leeds United while in the Premier League. A 4-1-4-1 system sounds largely defensive on paper, but Bielsa used it differently.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"715\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2201324650-1024x715.jpg\" alt=\"Aston Villa FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League\" class=\"wp-image-377647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2201324650-1024x715.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2201324650-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2201324650-768x537.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2201324650-1536x1073.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2201324650-1140x797.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2201324650-750x524.jpg 750w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa interacts with Cole Palmer of Chelsea after the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Chelsea FC at Villa Park on February 22, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA\/Getty Images)\">Photo by Catherine Ivill \u2013 AMA\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Indeed, the second block of four was not simply a midfield. It was an attacking quartet that all played behind a lone striker. Ultimately, Bielsa\u2019s Leeds were split into two \u2013 a defensive five and an attacking five.<\/p>\n<p>Kalvin Phillips sat in front of a back four, while the likes of Rodrigo Moreno, Raphinha, Jack Harrison and other attacking stars played off Patrick Bamford. A side that would finish ninth after promotion in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>At Chelsea, Alonso could use that system to combine a back four while including Palmer and Rogers as dual no.10s. Moises Caicedo adopts the Phillips role, while Rogers and Palmer sit ahead of him centrally.<\/p>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"09dc88ce-8192-4112-8b36-a5fc547ab0c4\" data-story-name=\"2026-2027 season\" data-comment-id=\"280f70e6-a2f7-41e3-9f0a-04b1810f9b80\" data-story-slug=\"2026-2027-season\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-content\">\n<h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">Bielsa\u2019s Leeds system is perfect for Rogers and Palmer \ud83d\udd25<\/h3>\n<p class=\"grv-talking-point__subtitle\">The second back of four is not a midfield, but an attacking quartet.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Predicted-XI-819x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-377952\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Predicted-XI-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Predicted-XI-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Predicted-XI-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Predicted-XI-912x1140.png 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Predicted-XI-600x750.png 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/Predicted-XI.png 1080w\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-estevao-could-become-chelsea-s-new-raphinha-in-bielsa-system\">Estevao could become Chelsea\u2019s new Raphinha in Bielsa system<\/h2>\n<p>It might be too attacking for Alonso\u2019s liking, but it would certainly get Chelsea playing high up the pitch and scoring plenty of goals. Pedro Neto potentially moves to the left, and Estevao starts on the right.<\/p>\n<p>Raphinha became a worldwide star while at Leeds under Bielsa, eventually moving to Barcelona. Chelsea have the next Raphinha almost, in Estevao. Such a system would allow Estevao to make that role his own.<\/p>\n<p>Ironic, given Chelsea pushed hard to sign Raphinha from Leeds back in 2022, even offering Leeds more money than the fee Barcelona eventually paid for the Brazil star. Now, of course, he\u2019s a Barcelona icon.<\/p>\n<p>If Alonso is brave enough to play the formation that made Bielsa a Leeds legend, Estevao would thrive on the right. There is no doubt that Chelsea would concede goals, but they would score plenty under Alonso.<\/p>\n<div class=\"see-more-wrapper lazy see-more-open see-more-blank extra-content\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/columnist\/the-marcelo-bielsa-system-xabi-alonso-could-use-to-combine-morgan-rogers-and-cole-palmer\/none\" data-type=\"subscribe\">\n<div class=\"see-more subscribe\">\n<figure class=\"newsletter\">\n<div><svg class=\"loading\" width=\"118\" height=\"36\" viewbox=\"0 0 118 36\"><use href=\"#dots-svg\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div class=\"signup\"><span class=\"hf\">Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><script>grvLoadAnalytics = () => {(function(d,s,i){var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)(0),j=d.createElement(s);j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/www.googletagmanager.com\/gtag\/js?id=\"+i;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(document,'script','G-E7VRWQHDP6');(function(d,s,i){if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){var e=d.createElement(s);var n=d.getElementsByTagName(s)(0);e.type=\"text\/javascript\";e.async=true;e.src=\"https:\/\/static.chartbeat.com\/js\/chartbeat.js\";n.parentNode.insertBefore(e,n);}})(document,\"script\",\"G-E7VRWQHDP6\");(function(){let s=document.createElement(\"script\");s.async=true;s.dataset.domain=\"thechelseachronicle.com\/MFj4XQ\";s.src=\"https:\/\/api.publytics.net\/js\/script.manual.ping.min.js\";document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")(0).appendChild(s);})();if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){setTimeout(function(){!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=();t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)(0);s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');fbq('init','663509325503632');fbq('track','PageView');fbq('track','ViewContent',{content_name:'The Marcelo Bielsa system Xabi Alonso could use to combine Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer',content_category:'Opinion',content_ids:(377945,\"cole-palmer\",\"morgan-rogers\",\"xabi-alonso\"),content_type:'post',});},3000);}}<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Add as preferred source on Google Chelsea have pulled off a coup to land Morgan&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19623,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19622"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19622\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}