Xabi Alonso said he was happy to feel the enthusiastic atmosphere at the home stadium.

Chelsea defeated Real Sociedad 3-1 in a friendly match at Stamford Bridge, thanks to goals from Morgan Rodgers and João Pedro. Xabi Alonso said he was very happy to feel the enthusiastic atmosphere at the home stadium and that such an atmosphere boosted the players' morale.

In the 11th minute, Pedro Neto passed the ball into the penalty area, João Pedro's header was saved, but Morgan Rodgers followed up to score, giving Chelsea a 1-0 lead. In the 44th minute, Takefusa Kubo's shot was cleared, but Arambreu, at the edge of the penalty area, fired a long-range shot into the net, leveling the score at 1-1 for Real Sociedad.

In the 47th minute of the second half, Reece James chipped a pass into the penalty area, and João Pedro headed the ball into the net, giving Chelsea a 2-1 lead over Real Sociedad. In the 77th minute, Gusto played a through ball to João Pedro, who then slotted the ball into the net, securing a 3-1 victory for Chelsea over Real Sociedad.

Chelsea ultimately defeated Real Sociedad 3-1 in this friendly match, successfully starting the new season with a victory. Meanwhile, the 2026/27 Premier League season will kick off with its first round of matches, and Chelsea will travel to face Fulham.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said: "It was a very good final pre-season friendly. For some players, it was their first and last pre-season game. For us, there were some things we did very well, and some areas that need improvement, but for some players, this is normal."

“It’s great to be able to get the whole team back together. Some players have only had three training camps, but they were able to play 60 minutes in this game. This is our final test, and now we have a full week to prepare for the game against Fulham.”

In addition, Xabi Alonso said, "It's the first time I've felt the atmosphere of this home stadium, and it's very exciting. The fans gave the team, the new coaching staff, and myself a very warm welcome, which makes me very happy."

“We want to build good relationships and get the support of the fans. We also want to put on great performances for them and give them energy. If we can create a good atmosphere in this stadium, it will give the team a huge boost.”

Image source: Internet