Alonso Begins Chelsea Revolution With Fresh Start After Madrid Exit

Xabi Alonso has settled into his role as Chelsea manager, conducting pre-season training in Sydney ahead of the club's fixture against Tottenham. The 44-year-old former World Cup-winning midfielder is fully engaged with his squad, demonstrating his playmaking prowess during drills and leaving players impressed with his technical understanding. Centre-back Levi Colwill acknowledged the quality on display, noting he felt envious watching Alonso orchestrate sessions with his trademark passing range and cross-field deliveries. Alonso's managerial journey was shaped by his upbringing around football, with his father Periko Alonso—a former Spain international and Barcelona player—preparing training sessions at home. This early exposure naturally guided him toward coaching, though he deliberately avoided rushing into elite-level management. He began with youth football before progressing through the ranks, a measured approach consistent with his playing style of controlling the tempo and pace of matches. The manager's breakthrough came at Bayer Leverkusen, where he achieved unprecedented success by winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal in 2024. The club had historically struggled to win major domestic honors, earning the nickname "Neverkusen" for their inability to claim titles despite assembling competitive sides. Alonso's arrival ended that drought and transformed the club's fortunes, though he describes the double achievement as "unexpectedly fantastic." His transition to Real Madrid last May proved short-lived, ending by mutual consent after reports of disputes with key players including Vinicius Jr. Rather than dwell on the setback, Alonso has reframed it as a learning experience. "I got a scar, now it is healed," he reflected, emphasizing his critical self-assessment and determination to extract lessons from the disappointment. He spent four months between leaving Madrid and joining Chelsea to reset his energy and approach. Chelsea's leadership conducted discreet meetings with Alonso in London and his native San Sebastian during early May to confirm alignment on the club's direction. Alonso has backed the organization's transfer strategy, which brought Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117 million as the primary attacking target, ahead of Arsenal's interest. Additional signings include full-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta, chosen to implement Alonso's tactical system, with negotiations ongoing for Pep Chavarria of Rayo Vallecano. The manager indicated further squad development remains possible, stating "we have taken a few steps but I feel that we can still take a few more."