Monday Fulham Stuff - 24/08/26...

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Results

Sunday 23/08
Brighton	4-0	Villa
Man City	2-1	Bournemouth
Newcastle	2-2	Liverpool

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Kevin Keegan obituary
The Trust were saddened last month by the passing of former Fulham manager Kevin Keegan at the age of 75 from cancer.

It was something of a surprise when Keegan was announced as the club's new chief operating officer eight months after he had resigned as manager of Newcastle United. His influence was key in helping Fulham bring in so many of the players who were prominent in the club's rapid rise to the Premier League, including Chris Coleman, Rufus Brevett and Geoff Horsfield.

Keegan was promoted to be the club's manager before the 1998 Division Two play-offs and, although Fulham lost to Grimsby Town after being reduced to ten men in both legs of that semi-final, he made up for it the following year. The Whites cruised to the Second Division title in style, playing some fantastic football, and famously reached the fifth round of the FA Cup. They beat Southampton and Aston Villa on the way to narrowly losing to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Keegan was also famously an attacking manager, regularly fielding sides with three strikers, and sending his side out with an adventurous approach. Fulham won the Second Division with a club-record 101 points, 31 wins and goalkeeper Maik Taylor kept 24 clean sheets in 46 league games. Such was his success, Keegan was lured to succeed Glenn Hoddle as the England manager, a role he briefly did alongside the Fulham job, before resigning towards the end of the domestic season.

The charismatic, genial and passionate manager had a massive impact on the game in this country after an outstanding playing career. Keegan was generous with his time and will always be fondly remembered by Fulham fans as the man who inspired one of the most successful seasons in the club's storied history. We would like to send our deepest condolences to Kevin's friends and family at this difficult time.



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2026/08/kevin-keegan-obituary/

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Join the FST board
Current Vice-Chair Hayley Davinson has penned some words on what we're looking for as we approach our AGM and the open period for current FST members to apply to become a board member.

We want new board members!

And this isn't a sideways swipe at our current setup.

We just know that even when you have a Marco Silva in charge, change is always good, so we are on the lookout for some fresh faces.

A well running supporters' trust board has a diverse range of voices sharing their opinions and trying to find solutions that work for the benefit of our fan base as a whole.

And talking from experience, to get those solutions takes significant effort.

Imagine you had to work with people with very different life experiences, backgrounds and views on the world. And your task with them was to bring to life ideas and ways to improve things for an even bigger, more diverse group of people. It's your job to speak for them, campaign for the issues that are most important to them and not get too lost in your own views if it means not working for the collective voice.

This is an opinion piece, so feel free to argue otherwise. But to me, the key to this work as a supporters trust board member is collaboration. With significant debating skills required (which I very much learned on the job!).

You see the different views are what makes being on the board great.

I've spoken in the stands with friends and thought 'bore-off' at people complaining about something that I might think is a great idea.

I've then sat on board meetings and heard these same differences of opinion explained to me. And had to reconsider my view. I might not suddenly agree with alternative views, but hearing people out is an incredibly under-rated skill – in both this work and in our current state of society!

We're a varied bunch, we sit in different stands (and everyone knows a Hammy ender and a Riversider are very different types of people). But we do (nearly!) always manage to get on. As one person recently said, he actually enjoys some of his tete-a-tetes with another board member. They are classically different people in their views, but their debating creates healthy arguments, considers others points of views, and when concluded, it generally means the conclusion that the Trust takes on a matter has been constructed and adapted a considerable amount.

We take some heat for this and it's been argued we aren't strong enough sometimes in our stances. That specific argument is for another day. But the point I would like to make is this. The finished view – be that our approach to meetings, our statements or our online articles – is always the culmination of some form of debate. It's the attempt to make coherent a stance that brings together the supporter collective, not just one side of an argument, or a particularly loud group of voices over those that may not always disagree, but just not make their views heard so loudly. We are here to try and speak for all.

I write this because I would love more people to know about how we work, but also because I think it is one of the biggest gains that you get from being a board member.

If you have opinions on Fulham, if you care about anything at all with regards to our club to an unreasonably high level, I believe you would enjoy being a board member more than you know. We can speak at length about anything from toilets, to ticket prices, away days and the cost of postage for the online shop.

We don't claim to be perfect, but there's a hard-working bunch of people on the board, plus those who have been part of the setup in the past, and we're keen to find new members to join our team.

I'll be honest too about what's needed from those tempted to join. It does require time commitment. The work regularly involves:

    A once a month online meeting of the board (allow 2 hours for this on a Tuesday evening),
    Some commitment to attend the monthly meeting with the Club,
    Support in the preparation of these meetings as required,
    Involvement and opinon via WhatsApp and email on pressing issues,
    Joining sub-groups of various interest (such as ticketing, sustainability, women's game, EDI).

Nothing listed above is mandatory, but if you are regularly missing from any of the above, it just puts more work on other volunteers, which can be stressful, so we do request openness in what you are able to do, and when unable to attend just let us know.

Whatever your background, whatever your work experience, whatever your age/gender/ethnicity, we're keen to here from you. Get in touch if you think you might be keen, but aren't sure if you'd be a good fit. I'll happily chat over email or phone with you to give you a better idea of what it involves and how you will benefit from being involved, too.

We advise that you must be a paid-up member of the Trust before October 1st to be able to stand for the 2026 election cycle. The election period for nominations will run from 1-17th November, which shall be followed, should it be required, a ballot period that will run from November 19th-December 5th 2026. Become a member of the Trust here.



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2026/08/join-the-fst-board/

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Fulham vs Chelsea: All the key stats and facts
 Chelsea begin our Premier League season with a west London derby on Monday evening. Ahead of our meeting with Fulham, we've pulled together all the vital facts, figures and statistics to get you ready for the Craven Cottage clash.

Fulham vs Chelsea - pre-match stats
Chelsea begin our Premier League season with a west London derby on Monday evening. In the match, Real Madrid's last two former managers will go head-to-head.

Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa also played together for Liverpool in nine matches against Chelsea between 2007 and 2009. This is the first time a manager's Premier League debut has come against someone he also played alongside in the competition.

Chelsea and Fulham are two of nine clubs to have new managers at the start of the Premier League season. Nine is the highest number in the competition's history surpassing eight in 2016.

The Blues (10th) and Fulham (11th) finished level on 52 points last season with only goal difference separating the sides.

The Blues have won six of the past eight Premier League meetings at Craven Cottage with Fulham winning the other two. Our last draw there was in 2012.

Head-to-head
Fulham are seeking consecutive top-flight wins over Chelsea for the first time. Their only previous back-to-back victories against the Blues came between 1977 and 1979 in the Second Division.

Only Man Utd (27) and Arsenal (26) have won more Premier League games against Fulham than Chelsea (23).

Head-to-Head (all competitions)
Played: 92

Won: 53

Drawn: 27

Lost: 12

Biggest win for each team:
Chelsea 4-0 Fulham - 1925/26 & 1983/84 - both in Division Two

Fulham 3-0 Chelsea - 1950/51 - FA Cup

Chelsea's biggest win at Fulham - 4-1 in 2004/05 in the Premier League

Fulham's biggest league win against Chelsea - 3-1 in 1976/77 in the Second Division

Chelsea stats
This match begins the club's 35th Premier League season. We are one of six clubs to be ever-present in the competition.

We have won 20 of our 34 Premier League opening-weekend matches, a win rate of 58.8 percent.

Chelsea begin with six Premier League matches in London, with Everton on 17 October the first fixture requiring travel outside of the capital.

Chelsea's most recent opening-day away match was in 2022/23, when Jorginho's penalty earned victory at Everton. That was also Chelsea's last opening-weekend win, followed by two draws and one defeat.

Xabi Alonso's first Premier League goal came against Fulham at Craven Cottage for Liverpool in October 2004.

For the second season running, and the 16th time overall, we have begun a league campaign with a London derby.

Twenty-seven Chelsea players have scored on their Premier League debut for the club, most recently Christopher Nkunku at Wolves in December 2023. Mick Harford was the first, against Oldham on the opening day of the inaugural Premier League season in 1992.

The Blues have won four of our past five Premier League London derbies, losing the other.

Reece James is the current Chelsea player with the most matchday one appearances for us in the Premier League (five).

If selected, Danny Welbeck will become the first player ever to make a Premier League appearance for each of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Fulham stats
Finished 11th in the Premier League with 52 points.

Lost 0-1 at home to Southampton in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Lost 1-2 at Newcastle in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Harry Wilson was Fulham's top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions.

Fulham scored 47 Premier League goals last season, their lowest total in the competition since their 2020/21 relegation campaign, when they managed 27.

Bernd Leno has played every Premier League match in each of Fulham's past three seasons in the competition.

The Cottagers have won three of their last four Premier League matches at Craven Cottage (one defeat).

Fulham have won their opening game in one of their last six Premier League seasons (two draws, three defeats), beating Everton in 2023/24.

They won three (Brentford, Chelsea, Tottenham) and lost three (Arsenal, Crystal Palace, West Ham) of their six home London derbies last season. The Cottagers have lost their previous three London derbies on the opening weekend of a Premier League campaign.

Marco Silva left Fulham for Benfica in the summer after five seasons as head coach, following the expiry of his contract. Newly appointed head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has never managed a side against Chelsea. As a player he won two and lost four of the nine games against the Blues for Liverpool between 2007 and 2009.

Discipline
Wesley Fofana is suspended (two matches) following his second red card of the season against Sunderland on the final day of last season.

Fulham's Joachim Andersen is also suspended.

Match Officials
Referee: John Brooks

Assistants: Adam Nunn, Dan Cook

Fourth official: Paul Tierney

VAR: Darren England

Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes

John Brooks refereed one Chelsea match last season: our January Premier League meeting with Brentford at Stamford Bridge.



https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/fulham-vs-chelsea-all-the-key-stats-and-facts

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Fulham v Chelsea: Prediction, team news, lineups and odds
Football never fails to throw up weird and unlikely angles, and that's the case at Craven Cottage on Monday night as Fulham host west London neighbours Chelsea.

With Xabi Alonso taking charge of Chelsea for the first time and Alvaro Arbeloa making his debut in the Fulham dugout, this is not just a local derby, it's also a match-up between the last two managers of Real Madrid.

Both Alonso and Arbeloa are also ex-Liverpool players – they played 46 league games alongside each other – so expect a warm embrace ahead of the Premier League's first Monday night offering of the season.

Fulham v Chelsea kick-off time
Fulham v Chelsea kicks off at 8pm BST on Monday, August 24 at Craven Cottage.

Fulham v Chelsea how to watch
The game will be shown live in the UK via Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting from 7pm.

TalkSPORT will provide full match commentary.

Fulham team news
Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios have followed Arbeloa from Real Madrid to Fulham and Garcia should be the focal point of the attack on Monday night.

Oscar Bobb, Josh King and Kevin are expected to be the three in behind.

Fulham must cope without central defender Joachim Anderson, who is serving a suspension, while club captain Tom Cairney is out injured.

Chelsea team news
Chelsea spent heavily in the transfer market again and three of their summer signings should go straight into the starting XI.

Maxence Lacroix is set to slot into a three-man central defence while Marco Palestra could play on the left of a midfield four.

Further forward, Morgan Rogers is likely to form part of an exciting front three alongside Cole Palmer and striker Joao Pedro, who has just signed a new long-term deal.

Defender Wesley Fofana is banned, while Jordan Henderson is still recovering from a wrist injury sustained in the aftermath of England's World Cup last-16 victory over Mexico in July.

Emmanuel Emegha and Aaron Anselmino are both sidelined with hamstring injuries, but Danny Welbeck and Mamadou Sarr should be available for selection after recovering from minor issues.

Fulham v Chelsea odds
Chelsea are 17/20 odds-on favourites to win the match.

Fulham are 27/10 while The Draw is 3/1.

Despite finishing 10th last season, Chelsea are considered realistic title challengers. They're fourth favourites at 8/1.

Fulham are 5/1 for relegation.

Fulham v Chelsea prediction
Chelsea have failed to win their opening Premier League game in each of the last three campaigns but it could be different here.

It's been a tough pre-season for Fulham as they try to fill the gaps left by departed duo Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez.

Chelsea lost at Craven Cottage last season after Marc Cucurella was sent off in the 22nd minute but they'd won six of the previous seven there.

There's every reason to expect another away victory and Chelsea to win by exactly two goals at 9/2 is worth a play.

Joao Pedro scored seven times in pre-season so is an obvious anytime scorer bet at 11/8.

Morgan Rogers boasted some superb numbers with Aston Villa and he can play a big part too.

Joao Pedro to score and Rogers to register an assist pays around 7/1.



https://www.football365.com/match-preview/fulham-v-chelsea-prediction-preview

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Chelsea's mood under Xabi Alonso laid bare ahead of Fulham Premier League opener
Xabi Alonso officially gets his Chelsea tenure underway on Monday evening when the Blues make the short trip to Craven Cottage to take on west London neighbours Fulham in the Premier League

In the weird and mysterious ways that football sometimes works, Real Madrid's two managers from last season go head-to-head in a West London Derby this evening.

After Los Blancos, in typical style, decided not to continue with Xabi Alonso less than eight months into his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Spanish giants went with Alvaro Arbeloa until the end of last season. In Real's 'Comunicado Oficial', the La Liga side never confirmed the length of Arbeloa's contract but many felt it was always set to be a deal until the end of the campaign - and so it proved.

Arbeloa left the Spanish capital earlier in the summer and has since taken over as the new head coach of Fulham on a three-year contract. Having only managed Real Madrid's first-team side for a few months and a spell with their 'B' side, Arbeloa comes into his first Premier League managerial job as something of an unknown quantity.

New Chelsea manager Alonso knows plenty about Arbeloa, though. The two first became close friends when Arbeloa joined Liverpool as a player way back in 2007. Alonso had been with the Reds, managed by Rafael Benitez then, since the summer of 2004.

The Spaniards developed a close friendship during their time together at Anfield. Alonso even followed Arbeloa to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009. Once both had retired from playing, Alonso and Arbeloa enrolled into Real's academy coaching system.

The pair's careers are so bizarrely intertwined that it comes as no real shock that it is Arbeloa vs Alonso and Fulham vs Chelsea in the west London teams' Premier League opener tonight. They have shared some special memories both on and off the pitch together, none more so than being in the Spain squad in that infamous, trophy-laden 2008-2012 era, but all of that goes out of the window at Craven Cottage.

"Of course you can have a relation, but once on the pitch, no friends, no past," said a stern Alonso on coming up against Arbeloa. "It's just the 90 minutes that we are playing, fighting for each club and after it's another thing."

For Chelsea, tonight's game feels like a long time coming. The countdown started 99 days ago. The Blues had just been beaten by Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley - and that was supposed to be the main story. Though it was somewhat overshadowed when news broke that Chelsea had chosen Alonso as their new manager on a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

After a "period of self-reflection" from the Chelsea owners and sporting directors following the sacking of Liam Rosenior in April, the Blues took their time in a considered process before opting with the impressive Alonso.

Ever since, Alonso has impressed everyone involved at Chelsea. The players have taken to the Spaniard's hands-on approach in training sessions and one source described the mood at the training ground as 'the best it has been for a while'.

Supporters are undivided on Alonso. And that is rare among Chelsea fans, particularly in BlueCo's tenure. His ovation during this month's pre-season friendly win over Real Sociedad, where the Spaniard was unveiled to the Stamford Bridge faithful for the first time, told you just that.

Seven-and-a-half months on from Chelsea's last visit to Craven Cottage, where incoming head coach Rosenior watched on from the stands before taking charge later in the week, the night finished with an overriding feeling of scepticism.

Going into this evening, the feeling could not be any more contrasting from a Chelsea perspective. Alonso is Chelsea's messiah and tonight, the countdown stops.



https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/transfer-news/chelseas-mood-under-xabi-alonso-34503580

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Remember patience as the new Fulham era officially begins
It all starts tomorrow remember to enjoy it.

The curtain is about to go up. The show is about to start.

For Fulham, this season is set to be more interesting than usual. The club has taken a risk. For the first time since becoming re-established in the top flight, we enter a new season without knowing what to expect.

When Alvaro Arbeloa signed as the new manager it was a relative formality. The 2026/27 season is anything but. I can hear murmurs within the Fulham faithful, I can hear the doubts and reservations. Truth be told, I can also hear the excitement.

I'm not going to offer optimism, nor will I strike out all hopes of success before a ball is even kicked. What I will do is remind everyone of where we were at the end of last season. Marco Silva looked grumpy. The players lacked the killer instinct when it mattered. Fulham finished two points off the European places. The fanbase were left dreaming about what could have been.

I was watching the Mourinho documentary over the weekend. Even when Jose was on the brink of winning the treble with Inter Milan, he still had plans to leave the club when the Champions League final ended. Immediately my mind went to Marco Silva.

I have now come to the conclusion that Marco was always going to leave, no matter what. He kept it quiet. The club clearly prepared for his departure behind the scenes. The difficulty was the lack of confirmation. But now the new era is set to begin, we have to look forward. Marco was always fighting for recognition as Fulham entered the top tier. The chip on his shoulder was often detrimental. Sometimes his stress and lack of composure in certain moments cost us. Fulham needed to bring in a coach who had the calibre and stoicism to take them one step higher.

In steps Arbeloa. After watching much of the preseason action, I can safely say one thing: it will not be boring. Fulham are going to press. The energy is going to be high and the tempo shall be quick. Fulham are going to be exposed, no doubt about that. But at the same time, Fulham may also impress.

Arbeloa may be an inexperienced manager at this level, but he's surrounded by experienced professionals. The squad was primed for a new injection of energy and new standards. I heard about the double sessions in Portugal. Judging by his sending off in Malaga, Arbeloa wants to win every game. This could be his downfall. But if backed and trusted, it could be the very thing that pushes Fulham up the table.

We, as fans, have to be patient. We have to remember this is only the beginning. We could see a shift to 4-3-3 as the season goes on. We could see tactical changes that don't immediately bare fruit. We could see a run of back-to-back wins the like of which Marco never produced. But we can't let our emotions get the better of us. Fearing the drop too early will infect the fanbase, and the players will feel it. Equally we can't get too over the top; growing is not easy. In fact we know growth can be painful, and worth it in the end.

Fulham are set to take a step into the relative unknown, the jury is out and the gavel is raised. Only one thing is certain. Fulham and their fanbase will do well to "keep calm and carry on" if the going gets tough throughout the season. Spartan law must be applied to players and the fanbase in equal measure.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/remember-patience-as-the-new-fulham

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Real Madrid set to block Endrick exit after sanctioning Gonzalo Garcia sale
Liverpool's hopes of signing Endrick before the transfer deadline have suffered a major setback, with Real Madrid now expected to block the Brazilian forward's departure.

The 20-year-old has emerged as a late attacking target for Andoni Iraola, who has admitted Liverpool's squad remains thin and expects further additions before September 1. However, according to Football Insider, Real Madrid have no intention of allowing Endrick to leave after already sanctioning Gonzalo Garcia's £34 million move to Fulham.

Garcia's departure has reduced Jose Mourinho's attacking depth and strengthened Endrick's position within the first-team squad.

Gonzalo Garcia sale changes Endrick situation
Liverpool had been encouraged by uncertainty surrounding Endrick's playing time after he spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon. The youngster impressed during that spell and demonstrated that regular senior football could bring the best out of him. However, Real Madrid's squad situation has now changed.

Garcia followed Alvaro Arbeloa to Fulham earlier this month, leaving Jose Mourinho with one fewer attacking option. As a result, Endrick is expected to remain at the Bernabeu and play a role during the 2026/27 campaign.

A permanent transfer is considered particularly unrealistic, while Real Madrid are also unlikely to sanction another loan before the summer window closes. That means Liverpool will probably need to concentrate on alternative attacking targets during the final days of the market.

January move could be possible
The door may not be completely closed in the longer term and if Endrick struggles to secure regular minutes during the first half of the season, Real Madrid could reassess his situation when the January transfer window opens.

A temporary move would appear considerably more realistic at that stage, particularly if Mourinho becomes satisfied with his other attacking options. For now, though, Liverpool's chances of prising him away are minimal.

Garcia's move to Fulham is the key development here as Real Madrid might previously have considered another temporary spell for Endrick, but removing two young forwards from Mourinho's squad in the same window would leave them unnecessarily short.

Liverpool's interest remains understandable given Endrick's potential, but spending valuable time pursuing an unavailable player would make little sense this late in the window. January could present another opportunity if his minutes remain limited. For now, though, Iraola will need to look elsewhere for the additional attacking quality he wants.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2026/08/23/real-madrid-set-to-block-endrick-exit-after-sanctioning-gonzalo-garcia-sale/

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The boys are back in town: Fulham take on Chelsea at home
Friends Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa will go head-to-head at the Cottage in their Premier League managerial debuts.

The opening round of the 26/27 Premier League fixtures concludes with the first Monday Night Football of the season on the banks of the River Thames, as Fulham host local rivals Chelsea in the SW6 local derby.

This summer has seen a host of changes at both clubs, most notably the appointment of former Real Madrid head coaches Álvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso, respectively.

Both Spaniards will be making their Premier League managerial debuts, with Arbeloa looking to continue the stability Fulham enjoyed under his predecessor, Marco Silva.

Expectations will be higher for Alonso, as Chelsea look to return to Europe and mount serious and competitive bids for multiple trophies.

As the 93rd meeting between these two clubs in all competitions nears, here is all the pre-match information you will need to know.

New Gaffer
Álvaro Arbeloa: The low-down

Appointed to replace Marco Silva at the end of June, Álvaro Arbeloa arrives in SW6 following a trophy-laden playing career.

Across two highly successful stints in the Spanish capital, Arbeloa accumulated 238 appearances for Real and won numerous trophies, including two Champions Leagues and one La Liga.

Also a member of Spain's all-conquering national side of the late 2000s/early 2010s, Fulham's new manager won the World Cup in 2010 and the Euros in 2008 and 2012.

The right-back also made over 90 appearances for Liverpool across three seasons in the Premier League.

His coaching career began within the Real Madrid academy setup. Having initially been appointed manager of the under-14s, he was quickly promoted to under-16s and under-19s manager.

His standout season with the under-19s, also known as Juvenil A, was in 22/23, where he led his side to a historic treble.

Arbeloa replaced Alonso as first-team manager in January, following eight months leading Madrid's Castilla.

His tenure with the first team was often tumultuous and was marked by dressing-room disputes and intense pressure.

Finishing 2nd behind Barcelona in La Liga, Arbeloa did guide Los Blancos to the Champions League quarter-finals, beating Manchester City 5-1 over two legs in the process.

New Playing Styles
Álvaro Arbeloa will try to implement a high-intensity, possession-driven 4-3-3 system.

Fulham will look to control games through dominant territorial possession and quick, vertical build-up play.

Out of possession, the Cottagers will be expected to employ an aggressive, high-energy front press aimed at forcing rapid turnovers.

Fulham's full-backs will overlap to create wide attacking triangles to supply chances for the frontline.

The new boys
This transfer window has shown a shift in Fulham's transfer strategy and Arbeloa's growing influence on the squad.

Rather than continuing with Marco Silva's transfer policy of signing experienced, Premier League-proven players, the club have clearly opted to bring the age of the squad down by focusing on exciting, younger players.

Summer signings in focus

Gonzalo Garcia
Striker Gonzalo Garcia arrived from Real Madrid for a reported sum of £40 million

The Spanish star is an exciting young player who are Real Madrid academy graduate and rose through the youth system under the guidance of Arbeloa.

Taking Fulham's number seven shirt from the departed Raul Jimenez, Garcia left the Spanish giants after scoring 13 goals in 51 appearances for the senior side, most notably a perfect hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Real Betis.

Garcia is a contemporary, dynamic striker who has demonstrated excellent composure and aerial ability during his fledgling career.

Known for his high work rate and intelligent positional awareness, Garcia will be hoping to slot into Arbeloa's high-intensity, high-press attacking system and act as the main attacking catalyst in a new era on the Banks of the Thames.

Cesar Palacios
Cesar Palacios joined from Real Madrid on the same day as his friend Garcia for a reported price tag of £10 million.

Taking Harry Wilson's number eight shirt, Palacios saw less first-team action in Madrid than his Spanish compatriot, making only seven first-team appearances.

With competition from Josh King and Emile Smith Rowe in attacking midfield positions, Palacios faces a tougher challenge when it comes to securing regular minutes.

However, his ability to provide elegant link-up play, coupled with sharp spatial awareness, will make him a real danger to opposition defenders.

Shea Charles
Brought in to replace Sasa Lukic, Shea Charles will be hoping to act as the lynchpin for Fulham's attacking transition.

Signed for £30 million from Southampton, Charles is known for his positional discipline and frequent movement to support his teammates.

Unlike Sander Berge or Lukic, Charles is prepared to drive forward and drag opposition players out of position, creating space for Fulham's attackers to exploit.

Past Game in Focus: Chelsea 1-2 Fulham (24/25)
Rodrigo Muniz's last-minute winner sparked jubilant scenes as Fulham secured their first win at Stamford Bridge in 45 long years.

In arguably the finest hour of Marco Silva's reign, Fulham trailed to a crisp, placed finish from the prolific Cole Palmer in the first half.

Gradually working their way into the game, Silva's substitutions worked a treat. Harry Wilson headed in at the far post from an Alex Iwobi cross to begin the comeback.

Breaking up a Blues attack in added time, Sasa Lukic charged forward and led the break. He played in Timothy Castagne, who crossed for Muniz to slot home and send the away end into raptures.

Last Five

    Fulham 2-1 Chelsea (25/26)
    Chelsea 2-0 Fulham (25/26)
    Fulham 1-2 Chelsea (24/25)
    Chelsea 1-2 Fulham (24/25)
    Chelsea 1-0 Fulham (23/24)



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2026/08/23/fulham/1268809-the-boys-are-back-in-town-preview-of-fulham-vs-chelsea.html

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'I saw the news' - Super Eagles CB responds to Fulham links, hails Trabzonspor teammate Salah
Super Eagles centre-back Chibuike Nnaiwu has responded to reports linking him with a move to Premier League club Fulham, insisting that his immediate focus remains on his football and current contract with Trabzonspor.

Nnaiwu addressed the media at a post-match press conference following Trabzonspor's 2-1 victory over Istanbul Başakşehir in the Turkish Süper Lig on Sunday.

The Nigerian defender has been the subject of transfer speculation involving Fulham in recent weeks, with reports indicating that the English club had shown strong interest in securing his services.

However, Nnaiwu played down the speculation when asked about the reports.

Addressing the transfer stories, Nnaiwu said he had seen the reports but preferred to concentrate on his responsibilities on the pitch.

"I saw the news you mentioned. However, I want to focus on my football and the game I'm playing. I already have a contract," Nnaiwu said, as quoted by Haber61.

The 23-year-old featured as Trabzonspor secured a home victory over Başakşehir, with Mohamed Salah scoring twice to emerge as the decisive figure in the match.

Salah opened the scoring in the eighth minute before Eldor Shomurodov equalised from the penalty spot, but the Egyptian restored Trabzonspor's lead three minutes into the second half to seal victory.

Nnaiwu praised Salah's quality and stressed the need for defenders to remain fully prepared when facing the experienced forward.

"Every player who plays against Salah needs to be very prepared. Because, as we all know, he is a top-level player," he revealed.

The Nigerian also expressed his desire to test himself against players of Salah's calibre, while acknowledging how difficult it is to contain the Trabzonspor star.

"As a defender, I would like to play against Salah. If I'm going to play against him, I need to be 100% ready and completely focused. Because Salah is not a player you can easily take out of the game. He has very high quality," he concluded.

Wale Adejumo



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/i-saw-the-news-super-eagles-cb-responds-to-fulham-links-hails-trabzonspor-teammate-salah

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Fulham VS Chelsea Preview – Premier league 2026/27
The new Premier League is nearly upon us, and Gameweek 1 presents a fiery West London derby to start us off with. Chelsea comes into the clash as favorites, but Fulham has made a few smart signings, and Arbeloa's side will be looking to cause an upset.

Head-to-Head Record
Chelsea has dominated the head-to-head stats, winning 49 all-time league matches to Fulham's 10. Despite this, Fulham have won 2 of the last 5 meetings, prevailing in their last meeting, with Chelsea winning the rest. There has not been a draw in the last seven meetings between these two clubs. The recent stats make for a much more even outlook, but it remains to be seen if The Blues' big-time spending this summer will leave Fulham in the dust or not.

Current Form
Chelsea comes off the back of an interesting preseason, with their final game being a 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge. However, they have won only 3 of their 6 preseason fixtures, drawing 1, with poor performances against Juventus, Spurs, and JDT of Malaysia raising early question marks for a few people.

However, for many of these games they were without a few star players, and the win against Sociedad showcased what a force they can be when their whole squad is fit.

Fulham had a worse time than Chelsea in preseason, winning only 2 of their 6 games, including a 2-0 loss to Championship side Norwich City. They drew against Al-Ahli and Malaga, losing 2-1 to fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace. However, they built momentum going into the new season with a 1-0 triumph over Stuttgart. Their dominant performance against the German side bodes well coming into their first match of the season, with Alvaro Arbeloa hoping for a statement win in a huge derby.

Chelsea must be careful not to slip up, as recent results have shown that Fulham can cause a surprise if the Blues let their guard down. With the two most recent Real Madrid coaches facing off in the first game of the season, which one will bounce back after lackluster stints in Spain?

Injury News
Chelsea has no current injuries, but one player is suspended, with Fulham looking slightly worse off.

Chelsea Injuries

    Wesley Fofana – Suspended

Fulham Injuries

    Joachim Andersen – Suspended
    Tom Cairney – Knee injury, expected back after September international break

Predicted Lineups
Fulham Lineup: Leno, Bassey, Cuenca, Robinson, Castagne, King, Berge, Iwobi, Bobb, Palacios, Gonzalez

Chelsea Lineup: Sanchez, Hato, James, Colwill, Lacroix, Fernandez, Caicedo, Palmer, Rogers, Neto, Pedro

Fulham VS Chelsea: Tactical Approach & Key Battles

Fulham's Approach
Arbeloa has outlined his desire to be "brave with the ball" against Chelsea, so we can expect Fulham to be aggressive and try to surprise the Blues with some fluid play.

Primarily, Arbeloa sets up in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, opting for midfield numbers over pinging it around the defense. Despite this, Fulham's pre-season matches have often seen players drop into defense to create a temporary 3-2 build-up, then spring back into place to get on the attack.

Usually this player is Sander Berge, but Alex Iwobi also dropped in to help build-up. Fulham have also been playing a pretty high line, showing willingness to counter-press and dominate the ball. Antonee Robinson has looked dangerous, pushing very high up and letting the left winger drop inside. He could be the key difference on Monday with his positivity and pace on the attack.

Fulham have also shown fluidity out of possession, pressing more than we have seen them do under Marco Silva. This shows that Arbeloa has come in to instill the mentality of a top side in these players. Fulham will press Chelsea in a 4-4-2, with Garcia and Palacios leading and Iwobi joining them to press the third center-back if needed.

A flat back 4 could be an issue though, as Chelsea will likely attack with 5 forwards, meaning Berge will have to drop in and mark one of Pedro, Rogers, or Palmer. Fulham should look to trigger a press when Sanchez is in prolonged possession, as we have seen the Spaniard make numerous errors when under pressure over the years.

Chelsea's Approach
Xabi Alonso had a much more complete squad in his final pre-season fixture against Real Sociedad, so this gave a clearer idea of how Chelsea may set up on Monday.

Alonso will opt for an initial 5-4-1 approach off the ball, with Palmer and Rogers pressing in a flat midfield 4 with Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. Chelsea's deadly press has been seen in the preseason, and we can expect this to continue on Monday. This will move into more of a 3-2-5 in possession.

Alonso likes to push his wingbacks high and use his center-backs as the backbone of their build-up play. Levi Colwill especially lends himself to this style, with his passing range likely to be crucial to Chelsea's build-up. Pedro Neto was seen as one of the wingbacks against Sociedad, and the same can be expected here.

With the lineup proposed, Alonso's initial 3 will be Colwill as the left center-back, Lacroix as the central center-back, and then Reece James as the right center-back. The wing-backs, Jorrel Hato and Pedro Neto, will get forward to support the attack, with the combinations running through a Fernandez-Caicedo pivot.

Cole Palmer and huge-money signing Morgan Rogers will tuck in, receiving the ball from the pivot and supporting Joao Pedro. It is also possible that Hato drops into the 3, then James moves into midfield next to Caicedo as Fernandez plays higher up. Arbeloa's Fulham may find it difficult to cope with Chelsea's attacking numbers should they opt for a 4-4-2 out of possession.

Key Battles

    Pedro vs. Bassey—Both are physical players, and Joao Pedro's hold-up play is among some of the best. Bassey will have his hands full, and it will be interesting to see if he can keep the Brazilian quiet.
    Robinson vs Neto – Robinson will be Fulham's main outlet, as Neto is more of a winger than a full-back; he could cause chaos down that left side. With how high Neto will play on the attack, it could be a key battle that can change the game.
    Caicedo vs. King/Berge – Games are won in the midfield, and Caicedo is one of the best in the world. Nullifying Josh King on the attack and duelling with Berge could both be grand tasks for the Ecuadorian, who does most of Chelsea dirty work in the middle of the park.

Predicted Scoreline

Fulham 1-3 Chelsea

Xabi Alonso shows no mercy to his good friend and kicks off the season with 3 points in the West London derby. Watch the game live on Sky Sports Main Event on Monday, 24th August, at 8:00pm.



https://www.attackingfootball.com/fulham-chelsea-preview-premier-league/

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Fulham vs. Chelsea: Preview, Predictions and Lineups
The opening weekend of the new Premier League season concludes at Craven Cottage.

Two fresh faces begin their West London managerial journeys with a derby on Monday night, as Chelsea make the short trip to Craven Cottage and take on Fulham.

Compatriots and former Real Madrid teammates Álvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso are the new men at the helm of the Cottagers and Blues, respectively. While Alonso was confirmed as Liam Rosenior's long-term replacement at the end of last season, Arbeloa took the Fulham job after a short-lived spell succeeding Alonso at Real Madrid.

The new Fulham boss saw out the second half of the season in the Spanish capital and now faces the tough challenge of following in Marco Silva's footsteps. The Cottagers achieved mid-table stability under the Portuguese after returning to the Premier League in 2022, and are now seen to be taking a punt on an inexperienced manager.

Thus, Fulham have been tipped to endure a tricky season and may even find themselves in the relegation scrap.

Chelsea, on the contrary, hold far loftier ambitions now that Alonso is in charge and wields more power than any of his predecessors since José Mourinho a decade ago. With no European soccer to think about this year, the Blues should also be fresher than their rivals as the season progresses, and they'll be keen to return to the Champions League in short order.

Fulham vs. Chelsea Score Prediction
Blues Ease to Derby Victory

There are fears for Fulham entering the new season. While much of Silva's core remains in tact, the former manager was hugely responsible for helping the Cottagers settle in the top-flight after a few years spent yo-yoing between the top two divisions.

And Arbeloa hardly pulled up trees in an admittedly tough Madrid environment earlier this year. It's hard to discern who exactly he is a coach, and the Premier League certainly isn't the right place to be learning on the job.

After a relatively slow start to preseason, Alonso must have been encouraged by his side's conclusion to their summer slate, with club-record signing Morgan Rogers already making an impression. Optimism is bubbling at Stamford Bridge.

    Head-to-head record: Since these two West London rivals first met in 1910, Fulham have won just 14 of the 95 meetings. Chelsea have triumphed 54 times.
    Fulham's opening day woes: While Chelsea have failed to win each of their previous three opening day games, Fulham have won just one in six.
    Chelsea's purring attack: Alonso switched to a back three by the end of preseason, and we should see Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and João Pedro make up Chelsea's attack on Monday night. Palmer's connection with former Manchester City academy teammate Rogers will be a feature of the Blues under Alonso, and Pedro enters the new season off the back of a productive summer. The Brazilian, snubbed by Carlo Ancelotti for the World Cup, scored seven times in preseason, more than any other Premier League player.

Prediction: Fulham 1–3 Chelsea

Fulham Predicted Lineup vs. Chelsea


Joachim Andersen misses out through suspension, having been sent off in Fulham's defeat at home to Bournemouth at the back end of last season. In his place, Jorge Cuenca should partner Calvin Bassey.

The Cottagers are healthy on the injury front, with stalwart Tom Cairney likely to be the only absentee. "It's just Tom who is injured," Arbeloa said in the buildup to the game. "The rest of the players are available and they are working so hard."

There could be Premier League debuts for former Real Madrid starlets Gonzalo García and César Palacios, and Oscar Bobb should play a more prominent role on the right flank following the summer exit of Harry Wilson on a free transfer.

Sander Berge and Alex Iwobi make up a formidable midfield duo.

Fulham predicted lineup vs. Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Cuenca, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Iwobi; Bobb, King, Palacios; García.

Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs. Fulham


Alonso is expected to go with a similar system that brought him so much success at Bayer Leverkusen. However, only one manager (Antonio Conte) has won the Premier League with a back three. The Italian did so with the Blues in 2016–17.

Chelsea have a few more injury concerns than the hosts, and are also without the suspended Wesley Fofana. Reece James is set to start at the heart of Chelsea's defense alongside new signing Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill, who missed much of last season due to an ACL tear.

Enzo Fernández has garnered transfer interest from Manchester City, but he remains a Chelsea player and will be used by Alonso on Monday night.

Emmanuel Emegha could make the matchday roster after recovering from a hamstring injury, as will Danny Welbeck, whom Alonso has confirmed is available to make his official Blues debut.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs. Fulham (3-4-2-1): Sánchez; James, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Caicedo, Fernández, Palestra; Palmer, Pedro, Rogers.

What Time Does Fulham vs. Chelsea Kick Off?

    Location: London, England
    Stadium: Craven Cottage
    Date: Monday, Aug. 24
    Kick-off Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
    Referee: John Brooks

How to Watch Fulham vs. Chelsea on TV, Live Stream

Country	TV Channel/Live Stream
United States	fuboTV, USA Network, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, UNIVERSO, UNIVERSO NOW
Canada	DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada
Mexico	Max Mexico
United Kingdom	Sky Go UK, NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Ultra HD, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League

https://www.si.com/soccer/fulham-vs-chelsea-preview-predictions-lineups-8-24-26

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Chelsea and Fulham's managers both suffered the Real Madrid curse - we're about to learn what they're made of
Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa both left Real Madrid behind in 2026. They meet at Craven Cottage tonight at the start of a new campaign.

Fulham will start the new Premier League season by having the neighbours round. The first Monday Night Football of 2026-27 takes Chelsea down the road to Craven Cottage, where they'll play in a derby that will do little to indicate what's to come for either team in the next nine months.

Chelsea have more tangible targets than local bragging rights in a rivalry so cosmopolitan that 'local' doesn't mean much anyway. They've been going after those goals like they mean it, up to and including a British transfer record move for the hottest property in English football.

Morgan Rogers has linked up at Stamford Bridge with Xabi Alonso, the Blues' new manager and the man on the end of the pointed backing of the club hierarchy. Alonso won't have to deal with European football this season. He will have to deliver it, however.

Managers united in Madrid misery
The 44-year-old officially succeeded Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid boss two weeks after leaving German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, where his success was generational and indisputable.

Alonso lasted six months back at the Bernabeu, winning 24 of his 32 matches in charge and leaving by mutual consent in January. Real Madrid were four points behind leaders Barcelona with exactly half a season to play but the manager's race had been run.

The outgoing gaffer was succeeded from within by Real Madrid B manager Alvaro Arbeloa. He was replacing the man with whom he had played as a teammate more than any other.

After his 19 league matches in charge, he too had collected four points fewer than Barcelona. Arbeloa stood down at the end of the season and finds Alonso in the away dugout for his first Premier League match as the manager of Fulham.

Unlike Alonso's, Arbeloa's Real Madrid departure had been in the works for a while. Question marks over their performances in big matches that marred his half-season in the hot seat were far from baseless.

There were reports of tensions in the dressing room that came to a head when Federico Valverde clashed with Aurielien Tchouameni, and Antonio Rudiger apparently opted for the physical method to express his opinion to Alvaro Carreras.

The scepticism of Bernabéu kingmaker Kylian Mbappe made Arbeloa's demise inevitable despite his own standing within the club.

Mbappe was more positive about Alonso, but neither the former Leverkusen boss nor Alonso's old teammate got what they'd hoped for from their respective ascensions into the top job with the Spanish capital titans.

When they press the flesh like Dillon and Dutch on the touchline at the Cottage tonight, Alonso and Arbeloa will have that in common. Real Madrid isn't a job that cuts slack. It's a Mourinho-sized role with Mourinho-sized ups and downs.

Same tee, different pins
There's no point in drawing conclusions about a manager after a few months spearheading football's greatest basket case. Some managerial personalities can pull it off. Others, well, they can't. It doesn't say much about them either way.

What separates the two who landed in West London this summer is the nature of their experience before they each spent six months as an egg in a cement mixer.

Alonso, as a Bundesliga champion, double winner and invincible with Leverkusen, has proven himself up to a point. Arbeloa has not. In that sense, they have at least popped up at Chelsea and Fulham the right way round.

Alonso has the chops and the more acute need to prove it. Fulham are embarking on life after Marco Silva and that comes with a very particular kind of pressure.

Youngsters Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacious followed Arbeloa from Real Madrid but doubts over whether the Cottagers have done enough to account for losing the direct impacts of Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez for nothing are entirely justified.

19-year-old striker Jonah Kusi-Asare has joined from Bayern Munich and promising young midfielder Shea Charles has come in from Southampton, but selling Sasa Lukic and Issa Diop to promoted Ipswich Town could prove more significant than Fulham would like if they don't have their wits about them.

Alonso's brief is a touch spikier. Chelsea dropped to a level they consider beneath them and are investing in bouncing back. Qualifying for the Champions League is the new manager's minimum objective. He won't be there this time next year if he doesn't.

Whether that would make Leverkusen rather than Real Madrid the Alonso anomaly would be for Chelsea fans to decide, and their Fulham counterparts will have their say on the early-career trajectory of Arbeloa too.

Free of the Bernabéu factor, untangled from the merciless mangle that is Real Madrid, 2026-27 will help define exactly what tier of manager these former colleagues are going to be.

Their aims are different this season, but they're starting at the same time, in the same game, under the same floodlights.



https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/coaches-managers/chelsea-and-fulhams-managers-both-suffered-the-real-madrid-curse-were-about-to-learn-what-theyre-made-of

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Arbeloa v Alonso: Benitez on his former players turned managers
When former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is asked whether he had expected his then-players Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa to become managers, his response is brutally honest.

"Alonso, yes. Arbeloa, not really," he says. "For me, Arbeloa was a surprise."

Almost 20 years after Benitez brought them together at Anfield, the pair will go head-to-head as Arbeloa's Fulham host Alonso's Chelsea on Monday.

The pair won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain, along with domestic league and cup triumphs when they both joined Real Madrid after Liverpool.

They played together for seven years at club level and shared the pitch 262 times for club and country, and their careers have remained closely intertwined since.

Arbeloa was promoted from Real Madrid B to replace Alonso when he was sacked by the Spanish giants in January last season.

"He was in Castilla [Real Madrid's academy], which was similar to how I started, and then he went to Madrid in special circumstances," Benitez said of Arbeloa's rise to Real manager.

They both returned to England in July to take up their first Premier League managerial roles and now lead clubs whose stadiums are only two miles apart.

"With Alvaro, he knows the Premier League," Benitez told BBC Sport. "But his experience is shorter than Xabi's. We need to know how he can cope outside Real Madrid, which protects you in a way. Outside, you are on your own."

It's no surprise that, having played as team-mates – including under Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, and Vicente del Bosque with Spain – socialised off the pitch and even gone on holiday together, the pair are, in the words of Arbeloa, "very good friends", despite being "rivals when the game starts". He explained they spoke to each other in the lead up to Monday's match, but not about football.

Other similarities will see the duo live close to each other in Cobham, Surrey, with their children attending the same school.

In the words of Arbeloa, their friendship "will never change".

'He was someone who was always thinking'
Alonso was one of Benitez's first Liverpool signings in 2004 as he looked to overhaul Gerard Houllier's squad, Arbeloa then joining in 2007 from Deportivo after rising through the ranks at Real Madrid.

Benitez explained that Alonso has experience of "coaching at a different level in a different country", having had success in the Bundesliga at Bayer Leverkusen by winning a league and cup double in 2024.

Alonso, in particular, had "vision" on the pitch, says Benitez, while his experiences playing at Liverpool, Real Madrid and then under Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich would have "opened his mind" to a range of coaching approaches.

Benitez recalls a moment of magic from Alonso in a 2009 game that displayed his football intelligence.

In a match against Sam Allardyce's Blackburn at Anfield, Alonso ignored an instruction to deliver a free-kick to the far post. Instead, his ball to the near post allowed Fernando Torres to head in his second goal of the match as Liverpool went on to win 4-0.

"He was someone who was always thinking," said Benitez.

'They always take something from you - I'm happy with that'
It is not just Alonso and Arbeloa who are among Benitez's former Liverpool players to have moved into management.

He reels off more than 20 names who have become coaches or managers, a list including Wales boss Craig Bellamy. He also points out that Djimi Traore is now an assistant coach at Seattle Sounders.

"I sent him to the shower at half-time in the Champions League final [in 2005]," he recalled of the defender, who was expecting to be substituted after a poor first-half before an injury to Steve Finnan saw him reinstated for Liverpool's historic second-half comeback and eventual victory on penalties against AC Milan in 2005.

He added: "They always take something from you. Maybe two or three things they can use [as a coach], and I'm happy with that."

It has been more than 40 years since Benitez began coaching at Real Madrid and, this summer, he finds himself in the unusual position of being without a job.

Now 66, Benitez says he is "waiting for another challenge", adding that his passion for the game is undiminished, as is his desire to "improve teams and players".

He felt he delivered in his most recent role at Panathinaikos, securing the top-four finish he had been tasked with achieving when he took the job in October, but was still sacked in May.

Explaining his continued motivation, Benitez said: "I was a PE teacher before and was trying to improve young people. It was the same as when I had Anthony Gordon at Everton."

The former Newcastle and Chelsea manager remains a Uefa technical observer and speaks about adapting to the modern game, using social media, artificial intelligence and increasingly sophisticated data as part of his approach.

"I had some offers," Benitez said, having recently been linked with the Scotland job.

"Maybe it is a national team, as a lot of teams will change after the World Cup, but there has to be something where you feel you can achieve something, whether that is promotion, like we had at Newcastle, with amazing fans.

"I know football now is more demanding. You have to be patient because, if not, if you change with the pressure of social media and change every seven months, then you don't have any project. That is the difficult thing."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckge725zy1zo

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Mr Khan's Programme Notes

Good evening and welcome to Craven Cottage for the opening match of the 2026-2027 Premier League season. What a night this is – our home opener under the floodlights, with a national and global television audience watching as we welcome our SW6 neighbours Chelsea Football Club. To all Chelsea supporters visiting us this evening, we welcome you warmly. And to the Fulham faithful here or reading elsewhere who are ready to embark on another season of top-flight football, thank you for your unwavering support.

Tonight marks the beginning of our fifth consecutive season in the English Premier League, and I am full of anticipation and optimism for what lies ahead. But before we look forward, I want to take a moment to express my profound gratitude to Marco Silva. Marco has been exceptional – not just as our Head Coach over the previous five seasons, but as a leader and wonderful representative of our Club. Marco instilled a winning culture and built the foundation upon which we now stand. Marco, thank you for everything. You will always be remembered as Forever Fulham.

I am delighted to welcome our new head coach, Álvaro Arbeloa, to Craven Cottage!

Álvaro has impressed us in every respect – his football philosophy, his passion for development, his willingness to trust youth, and his clear vision for where this Club can go. Over the summer, Álvaro and his staff have been meticulous in their preparation. They have trained our players to their way of playing, and I have been encouraged by how receptive the squad has been to his methods and philosophy. Our pre-season schedule, including our excellent victory over Stuttgart on 15 August, has given us the chance to put his tactical approach into practice and condition the squad to deliver the attacking style he favours. I believe we are ready for something special!

The summer has also been busy on the transfer front, and we are pleased to have done significant business comfortably ahead of our first league match tonight. First, we are thrilled to have made Jonah Kusi-Asare's loan move permanent. Jonah has proven himself in his short time with FFC as someone we want as part of our long-term vision, and we are excited to see him develop further under Álvaro and this staff.

We have also brought in some genuinely exciting talent with loads of potential: Gonzalo Garcia and César Palacios from Real Madrid, two young and highly skilled players arriving with considerable fanfare and familiarity with Álvaro, and Shea Charles from Southampton, a midfielder who will strengthen our presence in the middle of the park. All of our incoming players have been committed to long-term contracts, reflecting our belief in their capacity to help us now and in the seasons to come.

Tony Khan, our Director of Football, and I have found working with Álvaro on recruitment to be a total joy, and we will continue to consider additional paths and options to bolster our First Team in the week ahead. In the meantime, I genuinely believe we have assembled a squad capable of challenging for something more than we achieved last season, and I'm counting on tonight's sold-out crowd at Craven Cottage to inspire us to a great start in 2026-2027!

It is equally important to acknowledge those who have departed. Raúl Jiménez, Issa Diop, Saša Lukić, Harry Wilson and Steven Benda have all moved on, and we wish them well and thank them for their commitment to FFC. Raúl and Harry, in particular, produced numerous memories that will be lasting and cherished by all of us.

Several of our younger players have also left on loan to gain first-team football experience, and we are equally hopeful that this season will be one of continued development and growth for them. Additionally, best wishes to our captain Tom Cairney, who underwent surgery this summer. We very much hope to see Tom back in training after the September international break, and we cannot wait to have our leader back on the pitch.

One of the great joys of pre-season has been witnessing Álvaro's ability to connect with our young players and inspire confidence in them. That enthusiasm is contagious, and it gives me real optimism about where we can go.

Earlier this summer, I hung up my hard hat with the conclusion of construction of the New Riverside Stand and Fulham Pier. It marks the completion of a vision that took years of planning, development, and ambitious commitment by many here at the Club to bring it to life. I thank everyone involved in the project and also commend our supporters for your patience and support throughout this journey.

The New Riverside Stand and Fulham Pier, essentially one in the same, are now fully operational and together represent what I believe to be the best stadium feature in global football. It is not simply a matchday venue – that was never the intention. It is one of London's premier year-round destinations, on the banks of the River Thames. This summer alone, we welcomed thousands of visitors who came for FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon Tennis screenings, to enjoy our exceptional restaurants and bars, to experience live music and comedy, to participate in family entertainment and wellness offerings, to explore markets and community events, and to experience culture in spaces designed with extraordinary care and attention.

The transformation has been remarkable. Brasserie Constance, our flagship restaurant, has been awarded two AA Rosettes and was highlighted by the Michelin Guide as one of London's best restaurants for outdoor dining – a truly exceptional endorsement. More recently, Sæl Spa opened its doors, completing the final piece of the Fulham Pier puzzle. This extraordinary wellness experience spans four floors and features an iconic rooftop pool, movement and recovery facilities, and advanced wellness offerings. It is already attracting industry recognition and has become a finalist in the Good Spa Guide Awards for Best Spa in London.

Beyond the restaurants and wellness, we are also proud to feature Sophie Tea's art installation, which has transformed our architectural elements into a stunning public art experience that speaks to the unique character of this place. Lighthouse Social, Fulham Pier Hotel and the marketplace open daily along the riverside boardwalk continue to energize the neighbourhood. We have received Visit Britain accreditation and multiple industry honours, and accolades for our events and hospitality offerings continue to pour in. All of this will strengthen the financial viability of Fulham Football Club, and at time when the economics of the game are more challenging than ever.

But, in the biggest of pictures, we have created something in Fulham Pier that belongs to the people of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and all of the Capital. I am sincerely grateful that you have waited patiently for us to get it right.

Beyond Fulham Pier, this has been a remarkable summer for Fulham Football Club in every respect. I want to highlight a few other achievements:

Harrison Reed was voted Premier League Goal of the Season for his extraordinary late equaliser against Liverpool at Craven Cottage last season. Was there any doubt? His goal and that moment epitomized Harrison's character and quality. He was equally the recipient of the Club's Goal of the Season accolade, and it was great fun to have Tom Cairney present the Club award, voted by the fans, to him at halftime of the Stuttgart friendly here at the Cottage. Congratulations, Harrison, on a well-deserved honour and lifetime memory – for all of us!

Our Women's team continues to go from strength to strength. They have now remained unbeaten in league competition for two consecutive seasons, and they have begun their campaign in Tier 3 – the Women's National League Southern Premier Division – with several exciting new signings bolstering our squad and a 1-0 win over Portsmouth in their opening league fixture. Their continued excellence is a source of great pride throughout our Club, and I trust it is throughout our fan base as well.

In our Academy, we wish all of our teams the very best this season. I must note that Hayden Mullins, our brilliant U21s Head Coach who was named Premier League 2 Head Coach of the Season last year, has departed to become Men's First Team Coach at Newport County. We are genuinely proud of Hayden's progression, and we are grateful for his tremendous contributions to our development pathway. Additionally, Charlie Robinson, one of our Academy graduates, has recently retired from playing due to injury and has now joined our coaching staff. We wish Charlie all the best in this new chapter.

This summer, the Fulham FC Foundation and our EDI teams have continued their exceptional work in the community, and I am delighted to share that the Foundation's Female Youth Forum won the FA Youth Leadership Award – a recognition of the transformative impact our people are having. We were also incredibly honoured to be recognized in The Times' Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality, named as one of only three companies to watch in this prestigious ranking. Additionally, we launched FUL OF PRIDE, our supporter group dedicated to LGBTQ+ inclusion and community, which has been a genuine source of positive distinction for the entire Club.

On the commercial side, I want to welcome ClickHouse as our new front-of-shirt partner. The ClickHouse brand looks fantastic on all three of our 2026-2027 kits, and we look forward to a strong partnership and success as we move forward together.

I want to acknowledge the passing of former FFC Manager Kevin Keegan, the legendary footballer and manager who graced English football with his presence and passion. Kevin had a profound impact on our game, and he will be greatly missed. We are grateful for his memory and his legacy.

And, finally, I would be remiss not to salute Joe Bryan on the occasion of his retirement from playing football. Thank you, Joe, for your service to Fulham and the two goals you scored at Wembley on 4 August, 2020!

To summarize, as we stand on the brink of a new season, we will take to the pitch tonight with stability, ambition, a young squad that will benefit from the influence of reliable veterans, and supporters behind the team who deserve our very best. Álvaro Arbeloa represents a fresh start and a new opportunity to take the next step that awaits, and there is talent and spirit throughout the squad to make that happen. The early-season fixtures are challenging, but exciting. Season Tickets at Craven Cottage have sold out. The New Riverside Stand and Fulham Pier are fully open, and the English Premier League season is under way. We have a lot to celebrate, and even more to look forward to!

So, I look forward to seeing you tonight, and hope you can join us here Thursday as well for our Carabao Cup second-round tie vs. AFC Wimbledon. The FIFA World Cup was outstanding all summer, but club football is at the heart of our game and Craven Cottage is where that heart beats like nowhere else. Enjoy your time here, and thank you for your loyal support of Fulham, London's Original Football Club.

Come on, Fulham!



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/august/24/mr-khans-programme-notes/

[WhiteJC]

Super Eagles star's family key factor in decision to shun Fulham, Crystal Palace
Super Eagles and Trabzonspor defender Chibuike Nwaiwu has revealed that his family is settled and happy in Turkey, waving away any potential move abroad this summer, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 23-year-old defender was linked with a move to the Premier League, with Fulham reaching an agreement on personal terms with him before talks with Trabzonspor stalled over the transfer fee. Crystal Palace also entered the race later in the window.

But Nwaiwu's latest comments suggest that the situation is about more than football and money. His family has built a life in Trabzon, while the defender has also established himself as an important player at the Turkish club.

Trabzonspor confirmed on 27 May that Nwaiwu and his partner, Melissa, had welcomed a daughter. That change in his personal life has added another factor to a decision that looked much simpler earlier in the summer.

Super Eagles: Family happiness key to Nwaiwu's future
Nwaiwu spoke about his situation after Trabzonspor beat Istanbul Başakşehir 2-1 in the second week of the Süper Lig season on Sunday.

Asked about the transfer reports, he made it clear that he had seen the stories but did not want them to affect his football.

    "I saw the news you mentioned. However, I want to focus on my football and the game I'm playing. I already have a contract," Nwaiwu said as per Haber61.

He then gave the clearest indication yet of why staying in Trabzon may be attractive to him.

    "Last season I was not single either. I had a girlfriend and she was pregnant. This season our child was born. I am now with my child and my girlfriend. We are in Trabzon with my family and we are very happy here," he said.

The comments do not prove that family life alone caused him to reject a Premier League move. Earlier reports said Nwaiwu had told Trabzonspor through his representatives that he preferred to continue his career in England.

Yet his latest statement adds important context. A move to Fulham or Crystal Palace would mean another major change for a young defender who has only been in Turkey since January and has recently started a family.

The football side of the decision is also significant. Fulham first offered €20m before returning with a package worth €28m, made up of €25m guaranteed and €3m in performance-related bonuses. Trabzonspor rejected both proposals and were reported to want between €30m and €35m. A done deal would have seen Nwaiwu join Super Eagles teammates Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey at Craven Cottage.

Crystal Palace later made an offer of about €30m, but Trabzonspor also rejected that proposal while holding a €35m valuation.

Nwaiwu joined Trabzonspor from Wolfsberger AC in January 2026 and quickly became a first-team regular. He made 21 appearances in all competitions, scored three goals and helped the club win the Turkish Cup. His performances also earned him three senior Nigeria caps. His contract runs until June 2030, giving Trabzonspor strong control over his future.

There is also a new football attraction in Trabzon. Mohamed Salah is now Nwaiwu's team-mate, and the Super Eagles defender has welcomed the challenge of facing the Egyptian in training.

Nwaiwu also played in the 2-1 win over Başakşehir and said afterwards that he was pleased with the result and his performance.




https://soccernet.ng/2026/08/super-eagles-family-nwaiwu-fulham-palace.html

[WhiteJC]

PREVIEW: Fulham host Chelsea in the West London Derby
Fulham welcome Chelsea to Craven Cottage in the West London derby this evening, with both sides entering new beginnings on the managerial front.

Fulham welcome Chelsea to Craven Cottage in the West London derby this evening, with both sides entering new beginnings on the managerial front.

In July, Fulham announced the appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa as the new head coach, taking over from Marco Silva, who spent five years at the club and is now at Benfica. Last season, Arbeloa took over Real Madrid from Xabi Alonso, whom he faces in the capital, but ultimately couldn't salvage any silverware for the Spanish giants.

The Cottagers have had a busy summer, with 22-year-old striker Gonzalo Gonzalo García joining the club from Real Madrid for £34 million, along with Cesar Palacios, Shea Charles and Jonah Kusi-Aware. Significant outgoings include Saša Lukić and Issa Diop to recently promoted Ipswich Town, while Harry Wilson left on a free transfer to Leeds United and Raúl Jiménez returned to Wolverhampton in the Championship.

Ahead of the derby under the lights, the Fulham boss spoke to the media, saying, "I know how important that game is for our supporters.

"It's also very important for everyone at the club, for us, for players, for me. It's the first game of the season, the first game at Craven Cottage, so we are ready, we are excited, and of course we can't wait for that game."

As Fulham face a new era, Chelsea begin the season with a fresh start after appointing Alonso. He arrives with an array of experience and impressive achievements, particularly winning Bayer Leverkusen their first Bundesliga title with an invincible season back in 2023/24, as well as lifting the DFB-Pokal that same year. In fact, their only competitive loss that season came in the Europa League final when they were defeated 3-0 by Atalanta.

Despite a difficult period at Real Madrid last season, the new Chelsea manager has the experience that fans hope can get the Blues back towards the top end of the Premier League table, after missing out on a European spot on the last day of the season a few months ago. Chelsea's intent is clear, having broken the British transfer record to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117 million.

Furthermore, a new transfer strategy has been implemented, with Xabi Alonso emphasising that the squad needed older players with experience, bringing in Jordan Henderson on a free transfer and Danny Welbeck from Brighton for an undisclosed fee.

In defence, they strengthened with French centre-back Maxence Lacroix for £52 million from Crystal Palace, and right-back Marco Palestra for £43 million, who has joined from Cagliari.

During pre-season, João Pedro has been in sharp form lately after missing out on a spot in the Brazil World Cup squad, consistently on the scoresheet and looking ready for a big season, having found the net seven times in the build-up to this campaign.

In his short time, Alonso has already shown his talent, stating in his pre-match press conference that his development is "very noticeable every day".

Wesley Fofana will miss the London clash through suspension, while Jordan Henderson will miss out due to his wrist injury sustained at the World Cup, and forward Emmanuel Emegha has a hamstring strain – Danny Welbeck faces a late fitness test to make the squad.

For Fulham, Tom Cairney is out long-term while defender Joachim Anderson misses out through suspension.

The match will kick off on Monday, 24th August, at 8pm BST, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.



https://wp.fromthespot.co.uk/31454/preview-fulham-host-chelsea-in-the-west-london-derby/

[WhiteJC]

Additional Fulham tickets on sale soon
Wimbledon can confirm that we have received an additional 750 tickets for our Carabao Cup clash against Fulham on Thursday, 27 August (KO: 20:00 BST).

These tickets will go on general sale at 14:00 BST today (Monday, 24 August) and will be available to purchase directly on our ticketing site as well as in person in our ticket office.

Dons fans will receive a link via email to download their digital ticket(s). For this fixture physical/e-tickets will not be available.

We will contact our supporters later in the week to notify them that links have been sent for them to download their ticket(s).

Please email dlo@afcwimbledon.ltd.uk if you require a disabled ticket. 

*Disabled supporters in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (higher or middle rate) or PIP payments can be issued with a complimentary personal assistant ticket, if required.

Turn on club communications
Supporters who have opted out of club communications will not receive certain updates by email or SMS, including important ticketing information for Fulham and upcoming fixtures.

To amend this, please click here to log in to your account and select Profile and Payment Methods on the right-hand side.
 
Scroll to the bottom of the page, where you'll see a section labelled 'Authorisation.' From there, please opt in to receive communications via email and/or SMS.



https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2026/august/24/additional-tickets-available-fulham-away-carabao-cup/

[WhiteJC]

Will Chelsea challenge for the Premier League title? Why this new dawn feels different
Yet another new era begins, with Xabi Alonso at the helm, but something has changed

Into a brave new world head Chelsea.

At a club that buys players, sells players, loans players and changes head coach as often as they do, it can feel like the beginning of a new era almost every summer at Chelsea. And usually is. This year, more than any other during BlueCo's ownership, it does feel as though we have arrived at the start of a new chapter.

Xabi Alonso has benefitted from a full pre-season to take learnings from his players and plot out what might work over the course of this season, and what might not. His first competitive match in charge pits Chelsea against local foes Fulham, and pits Alonso against his long-time former Spain team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa and his successor in the Real Madrid dugout.

Alonso — hired as manager, not head coach — is tasked with guiding Chelsea out from the darkness and into the light. Some are tipping them to even challenge Arsenal for the title this summer. No European football means only one match most weeks, while new signings having quietly impressed many neutrals, and Alonso's managerial pedigree is clear after a his sensational stint at Bayer Leverkusen, despite a torrid time in Madrid.

Is it a step too far to suggest Chelsea can challenge? The proof will be in the pudding. Chelsea should certainly benefit from a reduced schedule after a hellish two seasons, and their summer business has made them far stronger, but even just Champions League qualification would be a marked improvement on finishing tenth last term. Arsenal have a level of momentum, grit and big-game knowhow that Chelsea cannot yet compete with. It is up to Alonso to disguise those shortcomings as well as he can — and to instil these attributes in his team as quickly as possible.

A rested Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro, the relentless Moises Caicedo, tireless Reece James and, for now at least, Enzo Fernandez; Alonso inherits some fantastic players. And his new employers have also spent big to further equip his toolbox.

Morgan Rogers, a childhood friend of Palmer's, should give Chelsea's attack a welcome new dynamic; Marco Palestra and Pep Chavarria give wide areas added youth and bite; Maxence Lacroix is a Premier League-proven centre-back of real quality.

The most fascinating of their recruitments have, of course, been the signings of Jordan Henderson, 36, and Danny Welbeck, 35. Chelsea's directors belatedly realised that their youth-focused model's greatest failing was, indeed, the lack of on-pitch experience it perpetuated. How much Welbeck or especially Henderson will play remains to be seen, but their high standards, career experience and leadership qualities should help Alonso, and Chelsea, no end.

Chelsea must lay down a marker, they must do on opening night what Arsenal and Man City did

At a club that has shown itself over the last few seasons to be as much a business as a sports team, plenty of attention is still on the final eight days of the transfer window. The Blues' unit of sporting directors are working hard to arrange loan exits for a number of players viewed either as not part of the club's future or simply in need of more game time than Alonso could provide them.

Others are surplus to requirements and available for sale. Priorities for clubs in the early weeks of the season when the window remains open are always dual. As much for Chelsea as for anyone in the league.

First, though, they must start well. At Craven Cottage, Chelsea must lay down a marker, must do on opening night what Arsenal and Manchester City did, must not fall flat.

Drawing a London derby (against Crystal Palace) on the opening day last year set them up for a season where they lost two head coaches, needed two separate stints with the same caretaker, and finished tenth. Victory over Fulham would send immense confidence pulsing through a club craving that their great many decisions this summer pay off in the weeks and months ahead.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/will-chelsea-fc-challenge-for-premier-league-title-b1294451.html

[WindyCity]

Joao Pedro scored seven times in pre-season

Ouch!  I think he outscored goals scored by FFC during the whole of pre season.  Hope AA has plan to contain.