Alonso’s appointment and club structure
Xabi Alonso has taken over as Chelsea’s sixth permanent manager in four years under the ownership of BlueCo, led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. His predecessors, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, held the title of head coach, a distinction that insiders suggest is significant. Alonso’s new title of manager implies a different level of authority, though he will still collaborate with the five-strong sporting director team on player recruitment.
Alonso emphasised the collaborative approach within the club, stating, “What I like is that we work together and we are all part of the decisions we take. We all feel responsible for that.” He also highlighted the clear ultimate goal for the club, expressing confidence in their current methods and the existing strong foundation of the team.
Squad alignment and player focus
The new manager stressed the importance of reinforcing the squad appropriately and making sound decisions, noting an alignment with the sporting directors. He stated, “The ultimate goal is to have a good team and build the right squad, and we are in that moment.” This comes after Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last season, missing out on European qualification following a loss at Sunderland on the final day.
This lack of European football has led to implications for squad size adjustments. Alonso has benefited from having more time on the training pitch during pre-season, with most of his squad available. He specifically mentioned Cole Palmer, who returned with a positive mindset after being overlooked for the England World Cup squad.
Alonso described Palmer as a “special player” with “different quality,” suggesting that building a team around him could lead to greater success. He also addressed the situation of Enzo Fernández, stating that the Argentinian wants to remain at the club and is expected to rejoin training after the World Cup, despite previous reports of intense speculation regarding his future.
Building a new mentality
The club’s recent history has seen a high turnover of managers, with Mauricio Pochettino lasting one season and Graham Potter not completing a full campaign. Rosenior, despite signing a six-year contract, departed after 106 days. Alonso, however, remains optimistic about the team’s potential, believing that only a few changes are needed rather than a complete overhaul.
He acknowledged that “some things happened” last year but expressed confidence that the team can perform much better by updating and reinforcing certain positions to achieve the right balance. Alonso aims to cultivate a team with the correct mentality, hunger, and standards, stating, “We want a team with the right mentality, the right hunger, the right standards and on a daily basis build on them.”
The reshaping of the squad is already underway, with several players departing. Marc Cucurella moved to Real Madrid, Andrey Santos joined Manchester United, and Tyrique George signed for Everton. Marco Palestra was signed from Atalanta, and Geovany Quenda joined from Sporting. Alonso has not yet worked with his full squad, as some players are still at the World Cup.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
Lucy Ashby is a Sports Reporter at NewsGB. She reported on the county circuit and Team GB. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Durham University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Durham, she plays club cricket and follows distance running. “The best sport reporting starts by listening.”
