Alonso heals Real Madrid scars to lead Chelsea's senior revolution
Xabi Alonso has taken charge at Chelsea, bringing his tactical vision and plans for a senior squad revolution during their pre-season tour in Sydney.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Xabi Alonso is actively hands-on in training during Chelsea's pre-season tour in Sydney, impressing his new squad.
- He took a four-month break to reset his energy following his departure from Real Madrid.
- Chelsea secured key targets like £117m forward Morgan Rogers while eyeing experienced leaders like Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson.
- Alonso is reshaping the club's culture to balance youthful exuberance with vital senior maturity.
Watching Xabi Alonso coach his Chelsea team conjures flashbacks of his playing days at Liverpool and Real Madrid. The 44-year-old World Cup winner with Spain in 2010 is fully involved in training sessions, teeing up players with accurate short passes before hitting his trademark cross-field balls at Sky Park, the home of Sydney FC. His approach has deeply impressed his players in Australia, with standout ball-playing centre-back Levi Colwill admitting he feels jealous of the manager's enduring technical brilliance.
In a hotel in Sydney's Darling Harbour, Alonso detailed the long path to Chelsea through his father, Periko Alonso, a former Spain international and player for Real Sociedad and Barcelona. As a child, Xabi would stand next to Periko in the kitchen as he prepared training sessions for the next day, making it almost inevitable that he would follow in his footsteps. Alonso noted that the road was not unknown to him because he had witnessed it at home, which ultimately shaped his characteristic playing style centered on slowing the game down.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
After taking his time in youth coaching, Alonso made history with Bayer Leverkusen by leading them to an unprecedented domestic double in 2024, capturing their first-ever Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal triumph. However, after joining Real Madrid in May last year, he left by mutual consent following reports of disputes with key players like Vinicius Jr. In the four months between leaving Madrid and joining Chelsea, he used the time to reset his energy—a vitality fully on display during his final training session in Sydney before facing Spurs.
Alonso's move to Stamford Bridge followed discreet meetings in London and San Sebastian over three weeks in early May to ensure the project was the right fit. Despite speculation linking him with Liverpool, there was no offer on the table from his former club. His clear vision for Chelsea materialized with the signing of £117m forward Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa and full-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta, moves designed to implement the tactical system he perfected at Leverkusen.
Xabi Alonso's arrival at Chelsea marks a calculated effort to mature the Premier League's youngest squad. By introducing seasoned veterans and establishing a strong collective culture, Alonso aims to address historical issues regarding squad discipline, set-piece fragility, and a lack of vocal leadership in the dressing room.
This senior revolution continues with moves for 35-year-old striker Danny Welbeck and 36-year-old midfielder Jordan Henderson to provide crucial experienced cover and drive dressing-room standards. Addressing the squad's restructuring, Alonso emphasized the necessity of balancing personalities across different life stages, stating that a successful team requires a healthy mix of players in their early 20s, early 30s, and everything in between.
Source: BBC Sport
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