Xabi Alonso faces challenges as Chelsea manager

Xabi Alonso arrived at Stamford Bridge with aspirations of success but faced uncertainty regarding how long he would be allowed to change the club's culture. This challenge was underscored by Chelsea’s recent history, where no manager had lasted more than two years since Antonio Conte, the last to win the Premier League title for Chelsea. Alonso stepped into the role amid a crisis for the club, which finished 10th last season, failing to qualify for European competitions, and experiencing declining squad discipline.

In response to questions about the urgency of the situation, Alonso said, "Time will tell. What I'm sure is that we have the ambition to win a lot of games, to be competitive. We need to take important decisions. We need to build strong principles and strong mentality and culture in the club."

Alonso, coming off a successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen where he nearly achieved an unbeaten treble, found himself at Chelsea during a period of unrest among fans, who were expressing dissatisfaction with the club’s ownership. "I think that it was, when we started talking, it was a good moment, a good opportunity to come," he explained, emphasizing belief in the squad's potential without needing a complete overhaul.

Alonso noted that he is set to have a more substantial role than his predecessors, as he enters as a manager rather than merely a head coach. He is heavily involved in transfer decisions alongside Chelsea’s five sporting directors. He referred to the current structure as harmonious but acknowledged the need for squad reinforcements.

While Alonso was reticent to discuss specific player targets, recognizing ongoing rumors, he was clear about the team's need for a few signings. "There’s a good team but we need to make a few signings and reinforce the squad for sure," he said. He aims to have a "good enough" squad ready to compete by the start of the season on August 24.

As he embarks on his first Premier League season in 18 years, Alonso felt his ambition was to emulate the success of fellow Basque tacticians. He recognized the challenge posed by rivals like Mikel Arteta, stating, "Mikel has become a great, great manager, and now they are the current champions."

Alonso's optimism about rebuilding Chelsea stands in contrast to the harsh realities of the club, as historically, the owners have shown little tolerance for mediocrity in the pursuit of trophies.