Xabi Alonso praised Welbeck for having a positive impact on his teammates.

The second round of the 2026/27 Premier League season will feature another key match, with Chelsea hosting Brighton at Stamford Bridge. Xabi Alonso stated that Welbeck has been consistently improving in training and has had a positive impact on his teammates.

In the first round of the Premier League, Chelsea defeated Fulham 3-2 thanks to goals from João Pedro, Morgan Rodgers, and Palmer. Earlier in the English League Cup, Chelsea also secured a 2-0 victory over Luton Town, thanks to a goal from new signing Welbeck, achieving a winning streak.

It's worth mentioning that Welbeck played for Brighton before joining Chelsea, and even scored goals in several encounters.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said, "Welbeck has many strengths, and you can see he's very intelligent and he's also very good at combining with his teammates. Outside the box, he understands his teammates very well. Once inside the box, he's equally smart about how to be in the right position, and we saw that against Luton."

“He also has a great positive influence on other players in daily training. He trains very hard and constantly raises the bar, which is something we consider very important.”

Xabi Alonso stated, "Henderson and Welbeck can certainly help, but they're not the only ones. Reece James, Lacroix, and Morgan Rogers are also examples. Even though they are relatively young, they can still have a positive impact."

"This is an important decision we made when planning our roster. We wanted to bring in players who could not only help their teammates on the field, but also quickly get into the competitive state and make an impact without taking too long. We are very satisfied with that."

Xabi Alonso continued, "Regarding Achampong, we saw him improve during the preseason and get better and better. When he plays with more confidence or aggression, he has many of the qualities that a modern defender needs. He can play in multiple positions, has good technique, and understands his responsibilities."

“In the few weeks we’ve worked together, I’ve seen significant improvement in him. He’s been very consistent against Fulham and Luton. We’re delighted to see this, but we also need to help him continue to grow.”

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