{"id":20980,"date":"2026-07-24T16:39:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T16:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=20980"},"modified":"2026-07-24T16:39:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T16:39:41","slug":"xabi-alonso-picks-his-chelsea-favorite-as-only-one-youth-player-starts-both-friendlies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=20980","title":{"rendered":"Xabi Alonso picks his Chelsea favorite as only one youth player starts both friendlies"},"content":{"rendered":"


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While Xabi Alonso continues to experiment with his Chelsea squad this summer, Landon Emenalo has already managed to grab his attention.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Xabi Alonso\u2019s youth policy is refreshingly simple: if you\u2019re good enough, your birth certificate doesn\u2019t matter. While most managers treat pre-season youth minutes as a polite charity gesture, Alonso is actively throwing teenagers into the deep end. <\/p>\n

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Landon Emenalo and prospects like Reggie Walsh and Mahdi Nicol-Jazuli are getting proper pitch time instead of just carrying the water bottles. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s bad news for senior stars expecting easy pre-season strolls, but great news for some kids who haven\u2019t even finished their driving lessons yet.<\/p>\n

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With his best mate Morgan Rogers announced, how many goals and assists does Cole Palmer get this season?\ud83d\udc40<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Landon Emenalo starts both Chelsea friendlies after impressing<\/h2>\n

Landon Emenalo is quietly becoming the breakout star of Chelsea\u2019s pre-season tour, standing out as the only academy player to start both friendly matches so far. <\/p>\n

The versatile teenager has clearly caught Xabi Alonso\u2019s eye, backing up his game time by continually impressing the coaching staff during high-intensity training sessions. <\/p>\n

Equally comfortable at left-back or in central midfield, Emenalo is proving he possesses both the maturity and technical quality to handle senior football. <\/p>\n

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\"Landon<\/div>
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Squad rotation is usually the norm during pre-season, but his back-to-back starts send a clear signal that he is earning his spot on absolute merit.<\/p>\n

Who does Landon Emenalo\u2019s rise affect the most?<\/h2>\n

Landon Emenalo\u2019s rapid rise under Xabi Alonso creates immediate pressure across both the left-back and central midfield positions at Chelsea. <\/p>\n

Despite Marc Cucurella\u2019s departure, Jorrel Hato will be put on notice as he integrates after his post-World Cup rest.<\/p>\n

In central areas, Emenalo directly threatens the rotational minutes usually given to holding midfielders like Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia. <\/p>\n

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