According to a report by Fabrizio Romano on Saturday, October 17, 2026, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has explained how his team prepared for Everton’s one-on-one battles, while emphasising the importance of every player in the squad.

Alonso revealed that Chelsea anticipated Everton would create individual duels during their Premier League encounter. As a result, the coaching staff instructed Cole Palmer and João Pedro to stand their ground and compete effectively in those situations.

“We knew today that Everton can come 1 on 1, 1v1, and we had to ask Cole and Joao to hold the duels,” Alonso said.

The manager’s comments highlighted the importance of winning individual battles in Chelsea’s tactical approach. Palmer and Pedro were assigned specific responsibilities to help the team cope with Everton’s direct style of play.

Alonso also stressed the need for unity within the squad, insisting that every player must feel valued regardless of how frequently they feature in the starting line-up.

“Everybody in the squad feels important, and everybody knows their moment can arrive anytime,” he said.

The Chelsea manager’s remarks reflected his belief that squad depth and readiness are essential during a demanding season. Players must remain prepared to contribute when opportunities arise, whether because of injuries, tactical changes or substitutions during matches.

His comments followed Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Everton, a result that strengthened the team’s position as they continued their Premier League campaign.

The match also saw Chelsea dedicate their clean sheet to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after he suffered a head injury following a collision with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and was stretchered off the pitch.

Alonso’s message underlined the importance of collective responsibility, with the Chelsea manager expecting every member of his squad to remain ready and take advantage of opportunities when they come.