Chelsea have a tough task on their hands this summer. The club know that they must get their next managerial appointment right. Of course, there are no guarantees in football, which makes the situation so much more difficult for BlueCo, who have painted themselves into a corner with their decision-making over the past four seasons.
Whether it be manager selection, player recruitment, or overall transfer strategy, they have gotten pretty much everything wrong so far. As a result, despite spending north of a billion pounds, they have not been able to build a squad that can even qualify for the Champions League, forget about competing for trophies.
Now, even BlueCo seem to recognise that changes are needed. At least that is what the reports suggest. But are they in a position to bring about those changes anymore? Chelsea are no longer the winning machine they were in the past and there are serious question marks over whether they are capable of rebuilding themselves into one under this current leadership.
Their only hope might be getting their managerial choice and player recruitment absolutely spot on this summer. But who would that be?
Chelsea told to hire 44-year-old manager
According to comments quoted on X, Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol backed Chelsea to bring in Xabi Alonso as their next manager. He said:
“The person I would go for would be Xabi Alonso. I think just from the career he’s had as a player, all the massive clubs he’s played for, he’s managed Real Madrid as well. He was forced out by the Real Madrid dressing room, but it’s different level of dressing room, even to Chelsea’s, and I think he would immediately command the respect of the Chelsea players. And tactically, I think he’d be brilliant.”
Alonso would be the popular choice for sure. Most fans believe that he is the best option available out there.
The Spaniard was a world-class midfielder in his own right and knows what it takes to succeed at top clubs. And since becoming a coach, he has shown enough to convince people that he is the right choice for what is needed at Chelsea right now.
What would Xabi Alonso bring to the table?
Well, Alonso’s biggest success as a manager came at Bayer Leverkusen. He took over at the German club when they were looking like relegation contenders. But they would improve rapidly under his watch and finished that season in sixth.
That was followed by a Bundesliga triumph the following season that nobody would have seen coming. They also won the DFB Pokal and lost in the final of the Europa League, coming agonisingly close to winning the treble.
Last summer, when Real Madrid appointed Alonso, it did not seem out of place at all. The Spaniard had proven himself in Germany and this was viewed as the natural step up. But things did not work out for Alonso at his old stomping grounds.
Ultimately, he was not able to handle the Real Madrid dressing room and did not last a season. But Los Blancos have only gotten worse since his exit, which suggest most of the problems might not have been down to him.
At Chelsea, Alonso could fit like a glove. He will get the chance to work with youngsters, as he did at Bayer Leverkusen. His stature in the game should immediately earn the respect of the dressing room, something that Liam Rosenior failed to do. If given the proper backing, the Spaniard can be the perfect appointment for the Blues.
Of course, convincing him might be the toughest task. Chelsea will need to tweak their model and give up some control if they want a coach like Alonso in their dugout. Hopefully, BlueCo are willing to do that.
