Xabi Alonso Thread

[Tomo 21,754]

11 hours 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. 

Problem is, he at the annoying reverse sweet spot (for want of a better word) where we need an upgrade for titles but can do a lot worse (as we've found out twice).

[Pizy 19,323]

37 minutes ago, Tomo said:

Problem is, he at the annoying reverse sweet spot (for want of a better word) where we need an upgrade for titles but can do a lot worse (as we've found out twice).

Yep. That’s kind of my worry if we throw Penders into the fire too early. He may be super talented and the next Courtois but what if he comes in and makes even more mistakes than Sanchez because he’s so young?

We’re in kind of a tricky place with keepers. We go sign a world class, super expensive keeper and that’s curtains for Penders’ chances here after we spent a huge amount of money on. We stick with Sanchez and we’re never going to be a truly top side. We put Penders in straight away and we risk him producing howlers as he’s getting up to speed.

 

[Blue Armour 4,745]

20 hours ago, Fulham Broadway said:

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

But can he barge into players like a tractor?

[maxlev 57]

I am glad we now have what I consider as an experienced coach who plays attacking style of football far more than delightfully counting how many passes his players make before remembering that goals win matches. Good attacking play will bring out the best from this squad even as it is but I did like him to do a total clearout of our center backs. Only Colwill and Achempong should be considered to stay while they bring in 2 too level experienced quality cb. We kind of lack creativity as we don't have skillful ball carriers. Our players tend to lose possession easily when under pressure except Joa Pedro who has really improved on this. Delap, Guiu, should be sold. Let's bring in another top striker like Laurato Martinez or Osimhen. With the right signings, only 4 or 5 incomings can set us up as title contenders. 1 or 2 experienced quality centerback (s), 1 ball carrying creative central midfielder, 1 top class winger, 1 top class striker.  

[Special Juan 28,830]

8 hours ago, Pizy said:

Yep. That’s kind of my worry if we throw Penders into the fire too early. He may be super talented and the next Courtois but what if he comes in and makes even more mistakes than Sanchez because he’s so young?

We’re in kind of a tricky place with keepers. We go sign a world class, super expensive keeper and that’s curtains for Penders’ chances here after we spent a huge amount of money on. We stick with Sanchez and we’re never going to be a truly top side. We put Penders in straight away and we risk him producing howlers as he’s getting up to speed.

 

Simple, buy Maignan and bring back Penders, Maignan won't cost the earth, gives us a quality keeper and can teach Penders everything he knows.

[Fulham Broadway 17,787]

3 hours ago, maxlev said:

I am glad we now have what I consider as an experienced coach who plays attacking style of football far more than delightfully counting how many passes his players make before remembering that goals win matches. Good attacking play will bring out the best from this squad even as it is but I did like him to do a total clearout of our center backs. Only Colwill and Achempong should be considered to stay while they bring in 2 too level experienced quality cb. We kind of lack creativity as we don't have skillful ball carriers. Our players tend to lose possession easily when under pressure except Joa Pedro who has really improved on this. Delap, Guiu, should be sold. Let's bring in another top striker like Laurato Martinez or Osimhen. With the right signings, only 4 or 5 incomings can set us up as title contenders. 1 or 2 experienced quality centerback (s), 1 ball carrying creative central midfielder, 1 top class winger, 1 top class striker.  

yes, people forget that defenders need to also be creatives, they can set the rythym of play from the back

[maxlev 57]

5 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

yes, people forget that defenders need to also be creatives, they can set the rythym of play from the back

Exactly 

[Reddish-Blue 2,695]

4 hours ago, maxlev said:

Only Colwill and Achempong should be considered to stay while they bring in 2 too level experienced quality cb.

Hato hasn't done too much wrong of recent times for a young CB/LB who's still learning and developing. 

Between Reece, Colwill, Hato you have a starting base for the backline but we need reinforcements badly. 

I fear that keeping Josh here would be ruining his development, at his age, he needs regular games, not bench warming duties.   He should have been on loan somewhere in the PL this season. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,695]

2 hours ago, Special Juan said:

Simple, buy Maignan and bring back Penders, Maignan won't cost the earth, gives us a quality keeper and can teach Penders everything he knows.

Knowing Joe Shields he'd be on the phone to City asking for Trafford's price. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,695]

11 hours ago, Tomo said:

Problem is, he at the annoying reverse sweet spot (for want of a better word) where we need an upgrade for titles but can do a lot worse (as we've found out twice).

To think this all started with the Courtois - Kepa shit show

Petrovic - Sanchez was interesting because you could see some potential in Petrovic and Bournemouth took that chance. 

[Tomo 21,754]

25 minutes ago, Reddish-Blue said:

To think this all started with the Courtois - Kepa shit show

Petrovic - Sanchez was interesting because you could see some potential in Petrovic and Bournemouth took that chance. 

Maybe in hindsight it was more Pochs system causing this but I honestly thought Petrovic was really bad for us and the advanced data backed that up.

I think the desperation for anyone but Sanchez caused it to go under the radar, similar to the ageing Ivanovic/Baba Rahman situation.

[Mhsc 1,150]

Slowly letting myself get excited about Xabi, albeit I worry that expectations are a little too high for him with the way the media are talking about him (as if we've appointed Prime Jose).

If we go and sign 2 top CBs and a GK then I might actually get excited for a new era. If we don't, its just more of the same shit with a new coach, the ceiling will always be low.

[Pizy 19,323]

3 hours ago, Special Juan said:

Simple, buy Maignan and bring back Penders, Maignan won't cost the earth, gives us a quality keeper and can teach Penders everything he knows.

That would be cool in theory but top keepers can play at their best level well into their 30’s and Maignan is only 30. If he were to come here and perform amazingly then Penders is locked out for at least a few years.

I think what I would probably do is just take the risk and make Penders our #1 this summer. What I think will actually happen is the club will convince Alonso to give Sanchez one more season before Penders takes the job after another Strasbourg season of development.

[maxlev 57]

2 hours ago, Reddish-Blue said:

Hato hasn't done too much wrong of recent times for a young CB/LB who's still learning and developing. 

Between Reece, Colwill, Hato you have a starting base for the backline but we need reinforcements badly. 

I fear that keeping Josh here would be ruining his development, at his age, he needs regular games, not bench warming duties.   He should have been on loan somewhere in the PL this season. 

I wasn't actually considering Hato as a centerback atleast for now. He is young and likely to make mistakes if played as a Cb in a fast, quality tempo league like the premier League. I feel the fullbacks we have currently will do well under the right system. Centerback is where our major problem is. We don't have a central defender who organizes the backline well especially in terms of positioning like Thiago Silva used to do. The likes of Tosin, Badashiele, Disasi, Fofana, Chalobah etc are not good in that. That's the first issue we have, poor positioning before talking about good decision making.

[Vesper 31,143]

Xabi Alonso to bring four ex-Real Madrid coaches to Chelsea, Calum McFarlane set to stay

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7287865/2026/05/18/xabi-alonso-Chelsea-coaches/

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.

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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 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.

The 40-year-old confirmed on Monday that Alonso has been in touch with him since Chelsea officially announced he is the club’s next permanent manager on Sunday morning.

“I haven’t spoken to him, but I’ve had a brief conversation with him via text yesterday,” he said in a press conference. “I’ll keep that private, but (it was) mainly just around the final.”

Alonso will not officially start work until July 1, but McFarlane has revealed the players have reacted very positively to the news.

When asked if he has noticed the players are excited about Alonso coming in, he replied: “Yes, everyone has been excited. He’s had a really good career so far. Won major trophies, a great playing career. He will have a lot of respect from everyone.

“He is a great coach, with a massive pedigree. We are all looking forward to working with him.”

Chelsea take on Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday and midfielder Romeo Lavia is a doubt after picking up a minor injury in training last week which caused him to be left out of Saturday’s FA Cup Final.

Mario Cortegana|Football Writer, Real Madrid

Simon Johnson|Chelsea Correspondent

[mkh 783]

🙌💣🔵According to ESPN Brasil journalist, Bruno Andrade, Chelsea have already made Thiago Silva an offer to become part of the club’s wider structure once he decides to retire.

The plan would see Thiago Silva working as part of Chelsea’s general coaching staff.

[Special Juan 28,830]

Thiago Silva would be a great addition, blokes a born winner

[Reddish-Blue 2,695]

1 hour ago, mkh said:

🙌💣🔵According to ESPN Brasil journalist, Bruno Andrade, Chelsea have already made Thiago Silva an offer to become part of the club’s wider structure once he decides to retire.

The plan would see Thiago Silva working as part of Chelsea’s general coaching staff.

This would be huge....from a defensive point of view!  

 

[Vesper 31,143]

The numbers are clear – Chelsea missing out on Europe would be perfect for Xabi Alonso

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7297567/2026/05/22/Chelsea-xabi-alonso-europe-analysis/

As the final weekend of the Premier League season approaches, Chelsea are dealing in degrees of consolation.

Will it be qualification for the Europa League, another Conference League campaign, or no European football at all next season? Champions League football is gone, but thanks to Tuesday’s win over Tottenham, a bottom-half finish in the Premier League can be ruled out too, barring a huge goal difference swing with Newcastle, Everton or Fulham.

The tussle Chelsea now find themselves in is with Brighton and Hove Albion, Brentford and Sunday’s opponents, Sunderland, with several potential outcomes in play:

• If Chelsea win they finish no lower than eighth (Conference League qualification), but will jump to seventh (Europa League qualification) if Brighton fail to beat Manchester United
• If Chelsea draw they finish eighth if Brentford fail to beat Liverpool, but they fall to ninth (no European football) if Brentford win
• If Chelsea lose they fall to ninth below Sunderland regardless of what else happens, and could fall to 10th depending on Brentford’s result

According to Opta’s supercomputer, Chelsea’s likeliest finishing position is eighth (39.7 per cent), though they still have a chance of seventh (27.4 per cent). But which outcome should incoming manager Xabi Alonso be rooting for?

My colleague Simon Johnson has already done a good job of analysing the pros and cons of Chelsea being in Europe in 2026-27. The data from recent history is very clear: having no continental commitments to clutter his midweeks would be a huge benefit to Alonso next term.

Since the start of 2015-16, there have been six instances of traditional ‘Big Six’ clubs (yes, this framing could look ludicrous if Tottenham are relegated this weekend, but in terms of financial resources and squad strength, it remains the best form of comparison to Chelsea) falling out of European competition entirely. It has happened to Chelsea twice and once apiece to Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Spurs.

The two Chelsea instances are 2016-17 and 2023-24, which immediately followed their two worst finishes of the Premier League era (10th in 2015-16 and 12th in 2022-23). Antonio Conte won the title in emphatic fashion in 2016-17, racking up 93 points. Mauricio Pochettino missed out on Champions League qualification in 2023-24 and left the following summer, but he still improved the team by six places and 19 points.

Conte won the Premier League in 2016-17, when Chelsea were not in EuropeMichael Regan/Getty Images

Liverpool jumped from eighth to fourth without European competition in Jurgen Klopp’s first full season as manager in 2016-17. Arsenal jumped from eighth to fifth without European competition under Mikel Arteta in 2021-22. Tottenham did the same under Ange Postecoglou in 2023-24. Manchester United have made the most of a lack of continental distractions this season and sit third under Michael Carrick, 12 places higher than they finished in 2024-25.

In all of those six instances, the clubs involved made significant and often huge jumps in both Premier League position and points the following year. On average, the gain for a ‘Big Six’ club in a season without any form of European football is six spots in the table and 19.7 points.

The sporting advantages of a season out of continental competition are well established. A more forgiving schedule means less travel, more recovery, and more time to train. But the fact that these seasons tend to follow an annus horribilis also make them the perfect scenario for an incoming coach. Player and supporter morale is generally at its nadir and, on as well as off the pitch, there tends to be plenty of low-hanging fruit to pick that drives immediate improvement — improvement for which the new man in the dugout gets the bulk of the credit.

But what if the likeliest outcome happens and Chelsea finish eighth, securing a return to the Conference League?

Because of the competition’s relative youth there have only been two instances when ‘Big Six’ clubs have dropped into the Conference League: Tottenham in 2021-22 and Chelsea in 2024-25. Both were still able to meaningfully improve their Premier League position and points tally to secure a Champions League spot: Spurs jumped from seventh to fourth under Conte, while Chelsea rose from sixth to fourth under Maresca.

It is easy to understand why. The standard of the Conference League is not high enough to significantly stress a ‘Big Six’ squad or rise up the priority list until the very late stages. Chelsea won the tournament despite not playing anything approaching their strongest XI until the final against Real Betis.

Wholesale rotation from weekend to midweek is a viable policy, meaning that, for your Premier League starters, the situation is barely any different from a season out of Europe entirely. This would appear to be a very manageable situation for Alonso if it comes to pass.

Europa League participation is a slightly less straightforward case. There have been eight instances of ‘Big Six’ clubs dropping from the Champions League into Europe’s second-tier club competition since the start of 2015-16, yielding mixed Premier League results.

Chelsea improved from fifth to third under Maurizio Sarri in 2018-19, while finishing as Europa League winners. Arsenal dropped from fifth to sixth in Arsene Wenger’s final season in 2017-18. United did the same in 2016-17 under Jose Mourinho despite earning three more points than the year before, but also won the Europa League.

United then jumped from sixth to third under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019-20 despite not increasing their points tally. They made the same position leap while winning 17 more points under Erik Ten Hag in 2022-23, but then came the Ruben Amorim exception: a catastrophic drop from eighth to 15th in 2024-25, compounded by Europa League final defeat to Spurs.

Sarri won the Europa League in 2019Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Tottenham actually fell from sixth to seventh in the Premier League in their season with Europa League football in 2020-21, and Mourinho paid for it with his job the week before the Carabao Cup final. Liverpool jumped from fifth to third under Klopp in 2023-24, improving by 15 points.

From the evidence above, it is at least very possible to balance Europa League football with a successful Champions League qualification push, and in some cases even end up with a European trophy to lift at the end of it. Chelsea’s recent history carries no small pressure for Alonso here: they have only competed in the Europa League (in its modern incarnation) twice, in 2012-13 and 2018-19, and won the tournament both times.

Alonso will surely back himself to succeed at Stamford Bridge next season, regardless of what happens at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, and the Europa League or Conference League could give him a solid chance of ending his first campaign as Chelsea manager with silverware. But a year out of Europe entirely could be a golden opportunity for him.

Liam Twomey Liam is a Staff Writer for The Athletic, covering Chelsea. He previously worked for Goal covering the Premier League before becoming the Chelsea correspondent for ESPN in 2015, witnessing the unravelling of Jose Mourinho, the rise and fall of Antonio Conte, the brilliance of Eden Hazard and the madness of Diego Costa. He has also contributed to The Independent and ITV Sport.