Just five hours after Chelsea announced his long-anticipated arrival, Emiliano Martinez walked out at Stamford Bridge to make his debut against Brighton.
Xabi Alonso immediately named the 33-year-old in the starting XI, but the frantic contest underlined that one new goalkeeper won’t fix all of Chelsea’s defensive issues.
Martinez said he felt “fit and ready” despite the £7.5m move from Aston Villa being confirmed close to kick-off. In reality, he had already trained with his new teammates after completing the switch before Friday’s registration deadline, with the public announcement held back for marketing reasons.
He could hardly be blamed for the three goals conceded in the 4-3 win. That contrasted with Monday’s 3-2 victory at Fulham, where Robert Sanchez was culpable for the first goal and arguably the second. Even so, Chelsea have shipped five goals in two matches; their revamped attack is why they still boast a perfect start.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Martinez admitted the performance was far from flawless but stressed the importance of taking the points and moving on. He praised the front three, said they created enough to finish the game off—highlighting chances for Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro—and added that the back line must tighten up.
Former Premier League keeper Shay Given called Martinez an outstanding signing, noting Alonso’s decision to start him immediately as a sign the manager wanted a commanding presence between the posts.
It was a chaotic win, and Alonso will need greater control if Chelsea are to mount a title challenge—with a trip to Arsenal up next.