​Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso spoke to the media for the first time since his appointment, offering a clear, forward-looking picture of his plans and philosophy. He described Chelsea as possessing “great potential” and a “very strong base,” and he expressed his expectation that the club will be competitive on the pitch, win games, and enjoy the process under his leadership. When asked about the distinction between a manager and a head coach, he explained that his role involves working in lockstep with the sporting directors to make the right daily decisions. He emphasized alignment, clearly set priorities, and a shared vision for how the club should operate.
Alonso stressed that the job presents a challenge because the Premier League is currently the most competitive league in the world, yet he said he feels “really honoured, privileged and ready for it all.” Looking ahead to his first season at Stamford Bridge, he outlined the objective of reaching European competition next season, while acknowledging that achieving that goal requires many things to go right. Part of the process, he said, will be discovering how Chelsea want to play, how they want to see themselves, and how they want to approach each game—the core of his task. He added that time will tell, but the squad is ambitious, and there must be a shared energy and hunger to secure success in order to reach that level.
Only four days into pre-season preparations, Alonso noted that his players already show a strong desire to make the season a good one. They are keen on his vision and are bringing energy and excitement to training. In terms of the attributes he is looking for in his players, he called for hunger, passion for the game, and a genuine desire to improve. He argued that everyone needs to be determined in the small details and unwavering in the basic principles of how they want to play. While he hopes to implement an exciting and brave style of football, he acknowledged that having the right mentality within the squad will be essential to achieving that ambition. His broader message was that a robust mentality and a strong club culture must be built, and he stated that it is too early to predict May’s outcomes but that he is confident and optimistic about a great season ahead.
On individual players, Alonso lauded Cole Palmer as a special talent and player, noting that Palmer arrived for pre-season in excellent spirits and with a mindset geared toward a banner season. He confirmed that the England international, who did not feature for England at the World Cup this summer, will be a key figure in Chelsea’s attack. Regarding transfer speculation, he acknowledged that Alejandro Garnacho, aged 22, has attracted interest from other clubs, but for now the focus remains on how the situation will develop, adding that he hopes it ends in the best possible way for all parties involved.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Jackson will join the squad for the pre-season tour in Australia and Asia after completing a season-long loan at Bayern Munich. Alonso also revealed that he would like Enzo Fernandez to remain at Chelsea beyond the summer. The two have spoken, and Alonso stressed the importance of keeping that conversation ongoing to secure the best outcome for the club.