Xabi Alonso was officially unveiled as Chelsea manager at Stamford Bridge on Monday, marking the start of a new era at the club. The 44-year-old Spaniard held his first wide-ranging press conference, addressing everything from transfer plans to his reasons for choosing Chelsea over Liverpool.
Why Chelsea and not Liverpool?
Alonso won the Champions League as a Liverpool player in 2005 and was widely expected to return to Anfield in a managerial capacity at some point. Instead, he landed at Stamford Bridge after leaving Real Madrid in January.
When asked why he chose Chelsea over Liverpool, Alonso was direct: “It is about timings. I am here today on my first day at Stamford Bridge, talking to you. I am looking forward to this challenge.”
Liverpool had been expected to keep Arne Slot when Alonso was appointed, but the club later sacked Slot after a trophyless second season. They replaced him with Andoni Iraola, a childhood friend of Alonso’s from San Sebastian who shares the same agent.
Alonso wants to keep Enzo Fernandez
The biggest transfer question hanging over Chelsea this summer has been the future of Enzo Fernandez. The 25-year-old Argentina midfielder, currently at the World Cup preparing for a semi-final against England, has been linked with a move away — most recently to Real Madrid, though the Spanish club denied pursuing him.
Alonso made his position clear when asked directly whether he wanted to keep Fernandez: “Yes. We have spoken. But, as you can understand, what we said will remain private.”
With no known alternative destination and a reported £120m asking price, Fernandez staying at Chelsea now looks the most likely outcome.
Garnacho allowed to seek a move
Not every player has a guaranteed future under Alonso. Winger Alejandro Garnacho has not returned to training since the new manager began work last Thursday. Alonso confirmed there is an agreement for Garnacho to stay away from the first-team squad while he seeks a move, with Italian club Roma among those interested.
Meanwhile, striker Nicolas Jackson will return to the squad after Bayern Munich decided against making his loan move permanent. “Nico Jackson is joining the tour in Asia and we are looking forward to him working with us,” Alonso said.
Building around Cole Palmer
One player Alonso is clearly excited about is Cole Palmer. The England international missed out on a World Cup call-up after Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League, but Alonso has seen a positive response in training.
“He has come in with a positive mindset and positive spirit. He wants to enjoy playing football,” Alonso said. “He is a special player, a different class with a different quality, and if we help him by building a team around him that allows his talent to shine, we will be closer to success.”
A new title and a new vision
Alonso arrives with the title of “manager” rather than “head coach,” a distinction his predecessors Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior did not have. While he will still work alongside Chelsea’s five-strong sporting director team on recruitment, the title signals a slightly different dynamic.
“What I like is that we work together and we are all part of the decisions we take,” Alonso said. “The potential is there. I think there is a strong base and a good team already there. We need to reinforce it in the right way.”
Chelsea missed out on European football after a final-day defeat to Sunderland, but Alonso is targeting a return to the Champions League. “For sure, that is a goal. But to reach that goal you have to do many things right. We are ambitious, and at Chelsea you need to share that energy and hunger to succeed.”
What to watch
Alonso is Chelsea’s sixth permanent manager in four years under the club’s American owners. His track record at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the Bundesliga unbeaten, suggests he has the tactical ability to turn things around. The question is whether Chelsea’s chaotic ownership structure will give him the stability his predecessors never had.
Pre-season begins with a tour of Australia and Asia, where fans will get their first glimpse of Alonso’s Chelsea in action. The Premier League season kicks off in August, and expectations are already building.
