Xabi Alonso Thread

[DDA 10,264]

24 minutes ago, Blue Armour said:

Fully agree.

I'll go on to say that if it weren't for relentless fan discontent and the protest, these people wouldnt even contemplate changing their ways or going after a manager like Alonso (or Pochettino before him). We would still be stuck with Rosenior's, Potter's or Gary O'Neil.

It will nearly impossible to move BlueCo out until theyve burnt up all the finances (in which case they will bail themselves out anyway), so the least that can happen from shitshow seasons is they wake up and at least move the needle a little. 

The fact that they've actually given him a managerial title, not just first team coach, speaks volumes to me.

 

Exactly, we have fan content creators like Younes and Johnny Minerals to thank for piling on the pressure with exposing the utter shambolic running of the club by BlueCo.

Hiring Alonso and briefing that they will give him more power in signings and running of the club could be seen as their last chance to get this right. If we now have a shocking summer window and there are even the slightest signs of not following through with backing Alonso… the protests will intensify big time. 

[Mário César 1,499]

This admission of guilt from the board, what happened with LR, the summer transfer window, etc. The fact that they’re even accepting a move from head coach to manager says a lot about how Chelsea is completely out of control and how badly we’re screwed. The protests should continue.

 

 

 

 

[NikkiCFC 8,518]

4 hours ago, Pizy said:

I don’t think we have wingbacks of high enough quality either. Reece was of course once one of the best attacking fullback in the world but his body can’t withstand it for long. Cucu is excellent at bombing forward and getting involved in attacks but he is not nearly dangerous enough with final actions to be a wingback for me. 

Everyone in the media is just kind of assuming automatically that he’s going to play 3 at the back with wingbacks but I’m kind of hoping he doesn’t. I want to see us with proper wingers.

Well, if that's the case he should play Boehly's favorite 443

[YorkshireBlue 3,346]

2 hours ago, DDA said:

Exactly, we have fan content creators like Younes and Johnny Minerals to thank for piling on the pressure with exposing the utter shambolic running of the club by BlueCo.

Hiring Alonso and briefing that they will give him more power in signings and running of the club could be seen as their last chance to get this right. If we now have a shocking summer window and there are even the slightest signs of not following through with backing Alonso… the protests will intensify big time. 

That’s assuming we have the money to back alonso, we have to sell big time and who the fuck wants half these muppets? 

[TheHulk 2,655]

3 hours ago, YorkshireBlue said:

That’s assuming we have the money to back alonso, we have to sell big time and who the fuck wants half these muppets? 

Shouldn't we in theory be able to spend more freely since we might not be tied to Europe this season? I read somewhere were sitting very good in England fair play because they sold those hotels.

[Special Juan 28,818]

First job, get rid of the deadwood and that includes Liam Fucking Delap.

[Fulham Broadway 17,779]

My mates son playing up front for Sunday league is way better than Delap

[YorkshireBlue 3,346]

7 hours ago, TheHulk said:

Shouldn't we in theory be able to spend more freely since we might not be tied to Europe this season? I read somewhere were sitting very good in England fair play because they sold those hotels.

All I seem to see and hear is the sheer amount of debt we are currently in 

[mkh 776]

✅️Calum McFarlane will remain at Chelsea as part of Xabi Alonso’s backroom staff.

🤬Unfortunately, Cueva and Ben Roberts are staying too which means Rob Sánchez isn't going anywhere!!!

🫩They could have also brought Thiago Silva, Ashley Cole, Azpilicueta or John Terry into the coaching staff.

😒Thiago Alcantara was also discussed internally, but he wants to stay in Barcelona.

@MarioCortegana

Xabi Alonso’s long-term assistant coach Sebastian Parrilla is one of four members of his Real Madrid backroom staff who are set to join him at Chelsea.

Assistants Alberto Encinas and Benat Labaien, plus fitness coach Ismael Camenforte Lopez are also expected to move to Stamford Bridge with Alonso.

Interim head coach Calum McFarlane is set to remain at the club and be part of the new manager’s backroom staff. Chelsea set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva and goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts are both also expected to stay on under Alonso.

Alonso gave the Madrid backroom staff an extensive refresh upon his appointment last summer and there remains a possibility that he could bring more coaches to Chelsea.

The 44-year-old was appointed Chelsea manager on Sunday on a four-year deal. The job marks his return to management after being sacked by Madrid in January. All four coaches departed Madrid alongside Alonso at the beginning of the year.

The former midfielder has worked with Parrilla since the beginning of his coaching career, dating back to the pair taking charge of Madrid’s under-14s in 2018.

Parrilla had spent two decades working in Madrid’s academy, before joining Alonso at Real Sociedad’s B team in 2019, and then Bayer Leverkusen, where they guided the club to their first Bundesliga title in 2023-24 after going the entire domestic campaign unbeaten.

The Athletic reported in June that Alonso relies on Parrilla in particular for defensive work and set-pieces.

Encinas is a former coach at Barcelona’s La Masia academy, who first worked with Alonso during his successful spell at Leverkusen before he brought him to Madrid.

Labaien joined Alonso at Madrid, returning to the club where he worked in the youth set-up between 2011 and 2014. A video analyst and assistant coach, he has also had spells at Atletico Madrid, Leeds United, Real Sociedad, Al Wakrah and Real Zaragoza, in addition to a stint in charge of Japanese side Tokushima Vortis in 2023.

Camenforte Lopez first worked with Alonso at Leverkusen, before joining him at Madrid as the club’s head of fitness preparation. His focus was on the style of play of Alonso’s teams, planning players’ loads and on-pitch work. He previously spent eight years at La Masia, followed by spells at New York City and Denmark’s national team.

McFarlane, 40, moved to Chelsea from Southampton in the summer of 2025 as Under-21 coach, and has had two spells in interim charge this season following the departures of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.

Alonso officially begins his Chelsea role on July 1.

Edited 7 hours ago by mkh

[Special Juan 28,818]

I do not want Sanchez any longer, he has to go

[Pizy 19,304]

16 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

I do not want Sanchez any longer, he has to go

I’ve said it before but I get the impression that those in the club LOVE Sanchez and rate him much higher than any of us supporters do. I would be genuinely, pleasantly surprised if we sold him. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,690]

2 minutes ago, Pizy said:

I’ve said it before but I get the impression that those in the club LOVE Sanchez and rate him much higher than any of us supporters do. I would be genuinely, pleasantly surprised if we sold him. 

Because there are Brighton boys in the top level and they want to protect their mates (Roberts the coach and Sanchez their prized GK) 

Remember that at one point Brighton had Sanchez as 3rd choice keeper.....and we still paid 25 million for him. 

21 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

I do not want Sanchez any longer, he has to go

Someone would have to BUY him for that to happen and he's not leaving his best mate and GK coach Roberts at Chelsea. 

The only hope is that Penders comes here and impresses Alonso enough to get a few starts.   Don't see us buying another keeper.   

[Reddish-Blue 2,690]

38 minutes ago, mkh said:

✅️Calum McFarlane will remain at Chelsea as part of Xabi Alonso’s backroom staff.

🤬Unfortunately, Cueva and Ben Roberts are staying too which means Rob Sánchez isn't going anywhere!!!

🫩They could have also brought Thiago Silva, Ashley Cole, Azpilicueta or John Terry into the coaching staff.

😒Thiago Alcantara was also discussed internally, but he wants to stay in Barcelona.

@MarioCortegana

Xabi Alonso’s long-term assistant coach Sebastian Parrilla is one of four members of his Real Madrid backroom staff who are set to join him at Chelsea.

Assistants Alberto Encinas and Benat Labaien, plus fitness coach Ismael Camenforte Lopez are also expected to move to Stamford Bridge with Alonso.

Interim head coach Calum McFarlane is set to remain at the club and be part of the new manager’s backroom staff. Chelsea set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva and goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts are both also expected to stay on under Alonso.

Alonso gave the Madrid backroom staff an extensive refresh upon his appointment last summer and there remains a possibility that he could bring more coaches to Chelsea.

The 44-year-old was appointed Chelsea manager on Sunday on a four-year deal. The job marks his return to management after being sacked by Madrid in January. All four coaches departed Madrid alongside Alonso at the beginning of the year.

The former midfielder has worked with Parrilla since the beginning of his coaching career, dating back to the pair taking charge of Madrid’s under-14s in 2018.

Parrilla had spent two decades working in Madrid’s academy, before joining Alonso at Real Sociedad’s B team in 2019, and then Bayer Leverkusen, where they guided the club to their first Bundesliga title in 2023-24 after going the entire domestic campaign unbeaten.

The Athletic reported in June that Alonso relies on Parrilla in particular for defensive work and set-pieces.

Encinas is a former coach at Barcelona’s La Masia academy, who first worked with Alonso during his successful spell at Leverkusen before he brought him to Madrid.

Labaien joined Alonso at Madrid, returning to the club where he worked in the youth set-up between 2011 and 2014. A video analyst and assistant coach, he has also had spells at Atletico Madrid, Leeds United, Real Sociedad, Al Wakrah and Real Zaragoza, in addition to a stint in charge of Japanese side Tokushima Vortis in 2023.

Camenforte Lopez first worked with Alonso at Leverkusen, before joining him at Madrid as the club’s head of fitness preparation. His focus was on the style of play of Alonso’s teams, planning players’ loads and on-pitch work. He previously spent eight years at La Masia, followed by spells at New York City and Denmark’s national team.

McFarlane, 40, moved to Chelsea from Southampton in the summer of 2025 as Under-21 coach, and has had two spells in interim charge this season following the departures of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.

Alonso officially begins his Chelsea role on July 1.

Fark that, they can't even sack Roberts as GK coach.   

Good luck to Alonso, hopefully he gets to pick the GK, not the Brighton boys. 

[mkh 776]

⏳️👌Xabi Alonso,

"Nowadays, as I see football each successful team must be comfortable playing with three systems - at least.'' Alonso said. "They need to adapt depending on the

circumstances. It isnt about not being loval to your identity No."

[Pizy 19,304]

7 minutes ago, Reddish-Blue said:

Because there are Brighton boys in the top level and they want to protect their mates (Roberts the coach and Sanchez their prized GK) 

Remember that at one point Brighton had Sanchez as 3rd choice keeper.....and we still paid 25 million for him. 

Someone would have to BUY him for that to happen and he's not leaving his best mate and GK coach Roberts at Chelsea. 

The only hope is that Penders comes here and impresses Alonso enough to get a few starts.   Don't see us buying another keeper.   

Tbf, he HAS actually been a solid 7/10 level keeper this season. Still has a calamitous howler every now and then but on the whole he has been a decent PL starting keeper. For that reason I don’t think we’d have that much issue finding a buyer whether that’s within the PL or elsewhere.

He’s good enough to start for a club of a good level, just not at one the size of Chelsea. I could see him at one of the bigger Italian clubs for instance.

[Strike 7,820]

59 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Tbf, he HAS actually been a solid 7/10 level keeper this season. Still has a calamitous howler every now and then but on the whole he has been a decent PL starting keeper. For that reason I don’t think we’d have that much issue finding a buyer whether that’s within the PL or elsewhere.

He’s good enough to start for a club of a good level, just not at one the size of Chelsea. I could see him at one of the bigger Italian clubs for instance.

Good enough backup keeper

[Pizy 19,304]

10 minutes ago, Strike said:

Good enough backup keeper

His ego probably wouldn’t allow that but yes, him staying as our #2 would be ideal.

[Strike 7,820]

1 minute ago, Pizy said:

His ego probably wouldn’t allow that but yes, him staying as our #2 would be ideal.

There's a window where we can convince him using the language of "Stay and fight for the #1 spot". Similar to how Cech lingered around for a year when Courtois became first choice in 14/15. 

[ZAPHOD2319 4,969]

 

[mkh 776]

🗣 @alex_crook: "I have been told from sources close to Chelsea that Xabi Alonso not wedded to that [three at the back] system. 

He will be tactically flexible and willing to try out different formations. I think that's encouraging."