Three games in, Chelsea is having fun again

Work to do

There is still a lot of work to do, however, particularly at the back. Chelsea has not kept a clean sheet in the league for 18 games, and, after its blistering start, conceded goals from 20-year-old Malick Yalcouye, Pedro, who put the ball into his own net, and a 96th-minute Pascal Gross header.

Alonso said his team would learn to manage the ebb and flow of the game better, enjoying the good moments and correcting the bad ones.

It will be bolstered by newly arrived Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was called upon more often than his Brighton counterpart Bart Verbruggen, and made key saves as the visitor grew in confidence in the second half.

"He is a World Cup winner ... experienced," Alonso said, adding that Martinez had said he felt ready to play, despite a quickly completed move from Aston Villa.

"He has been in the building just 48 hours. Day by day we will feel his presence, because he has this charisma, this aura, to influence and create very positive connections."

Martinez said it was not a perfect game, but "winning and moving on is what we need".

"The front three are amazing. When we go forward, we can hurt teams. We had a lot of chances to finish the game. Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro had chances to kill the game. At the back, we need to bring the goals down."

Last season's first-choice goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who played against Fulham, is likely to be looking for a new club before the window closes on Tuesday after too many error-strewn performances.

He did not appear on the squad list on Sunday, nor did Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who could be making a move to Manchester City before the deadline if the two clubs can agree terms.

Enzo's future

Alonso said the club is preparing for "all scenarios" regarding Fernandez's future after the Argentina midfielder was left out again for the 4-3 win over Brighton.

Manchester City reportedly has an interest in signing Fernandez, with the summer transfer window closing late Tuesday.

Fernandez wasn't in the squad for the English League Cup win over third-tier Luton on Thursday, either.

Asked whether the midfielder had played his last game for Chelsea, Alonso said: "We'll see. We want the best for the team, and that's why we took the decision against Luton and today.

"We have to be aware (until) Tuesday evening what is going to develop. We're not sure. We are preparing for all scenarios. I'm sure that, whatever happens, from Wednesday we will have a good enough squad to compete in the Premier League."

Fernandez has played for Chelsea since moving from Benfica in 2023 for 106.7 million pounds (then $131.4 million), a British-record fee at the time.