Alonso confident in Chelsea's midfield depth for PL season

Xabi Alonso says Chelsea have sufficient midfield options to rotate through the Premier League season and handle different opponents, after winning all three matches since he took charge.

Alonso has already fielded several midfield combinations, with Valentin Barco, Romeo Lavia, Malo Gusto and Reece James all starting in that role across the opening fixtures. Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson remain additional options as they work back to full fitness.

"We have different qualities and personalities," Alonso said. "Players like Valentin – he's young but has come with great energy. We have Hendo who has the composure, the mentality. He knows what's going on in the game, and he's getting closer and closer to playing time."

Alonso also pointed to cover from the academy, with teenagers Reggie Watson and Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli featuring during pre-season. "With Rom, Moi, Reece, Malo can play there, Watson as well, Mahdi from the Academy, we have options," he added. "We need to have the right balance and within that we have quality and competitiveness for all the season and to face each opponent."

The Chelsea manager said a lighter fixture schedule this season compared to previous years would allow him to manage minutes more carefully across his squad. "We are able to manage more minutes, to spread them around and to have a proper distribution depending on the games, depending on the momentum of each player," Alonso continued.

He singled out Lavia's fitness consistency as a priority. "Hopefully, touch wood, they don't have that many setbacks — especially from Rom, that he is feeling better, that we need to push him to have this consistency in his fitness level."

Chelsea face title holders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, when Alonso's midfield selection will be put to the test.