Xabi Alonso was captivated, showering praise on Chelsea's brightest young talent.

Xabi Alonso surprisingly offered high praise for Reggie Watson, the 16-year-old Chelsea midfielder who was the sole player to complete the entire 90 minutes in Sydney on July 28.

Xabi Alonso looked beyond the 90 minutes Reggie Watson spent on the pitch. What caught the Spanish coach's attention even more was how the 16-year-old midfielder thought, supported his teammates, and handled the ball in a highly dynamic match.

Following Chelsea's 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers, Alonso gave a special assessment of the player born in 2010: “He is an excellent midfielder. He always thinks about the team, is very selfless on the pitch, gives everything, and is also very intelligent when in possession. So, considering his age, I am truly impressed.”

Alonso's praise partly shows that Watson scored points through the key qualities of a central midfielder. Rather than emphasizing physicality or individual technique, the Spanish tactician particularly highlighted the 16-year-old's game intelligence, sacrifice, and team-first mentality.

Watson played alongside Dario Essugo in the midfield and was the only Chelsea player to complete the full 90 minutes. While Alonso substituted almost the entire squad after an hour, the teenage midfielder was kept on to maintain the connection between different groups of players.

Watson's performance contained details that reinforced Alonso's comments. Before halftime, his corner kick found Tosin Adarabioyo at the far post. In the second half, Watson pushed the ball forward and then played a well-timed through ball for Landon Emenalo to run onto, although the chance was not converted into a goal.

That was a remarkable image for a player just stepping into the first-team environment: not trying to show off or constantly seek individual moments, yet still leaving a mark with sensible decisions. A team-first mindset might be the reason Watson was mentioned by Alonso during a match where Joao Pedro stole the spotlight with a hat-trick in nine minutes.

On Chelsea's official website, Watson is described as a calm central midfielder, who joined the academy from Crystal Palace at the U15 level. His inclusion in the pre-season tour and playing the full match in Alonso's first game suggests the young player is entering a notable phase of development.

Watson is still far from securing a regular spot at Stamford Bridge. But when one of the finest midfield minds of the previous generation sees in him maturity beyond his years, the upcoming opportunities for the talent born in 2010 will be highly anticipated.