Chelsea are set to announce the appointment of Xabi Alonso as the club’s next permanent manager, and it comes after Reece James was asked what the Blues need the most this summer.
The news that Alonso would become Chelsea’s sixth permanent manager since BlueCo arrived as owners emerged within hours of Saturday’s FA Cup final defeat to Man City, which annoyed club icon Joe Cole.
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Alonso is signing a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge and will be BlueCo’s first ‘manager’ having named the previous four appointments as ‘head coach’. Thomas Tuchel was Chelsea’s manager upon arrival.
But the news of Alonso’s arrival comes after Chelsea lost to Man City, and the club’s hope of European football next season immediately faded. That, and Chelsea have now lost seven consecutive finals.
Reece James asked what Chelsea need the most
Speaking to reporters after the game, Chelsea skipper Reece James was asked what the Blues need more than anything in the summer. A tough question, with Chelsea’s struggles suggesting plenty needs fixing.
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But James hit the nail on the head with his reply. Moments before the news of Alonso surfaced, James called on the owners to provide stability and consistency at Stamford Bridge, after so much upheaval.
He told TNT Sports: “I think the key thing is probably stability. It’s super difficult to chop and change mid-season; we’ve tried the best we can. It’s [stability] probably one of the key things we need as a collective.”
BlueCo’s first Xabi Alonso move suggests the start of a new era
BlueCo have made so many mistakes over the course of the last four years. A lack of knowledge and understanding, combined with a stubbornness to change, has ultimately resulted in this season’s failures.
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Winning the Conference League and the Club World Cup papered over the cracks. The BlueCo era has not been a success, but if it is to work, BlueCo need to make a change and with Alonso, they have done that.
Chelsea’s decision to make Alonso their first manager, and not a head coach, is significant. It represents a change in approach from the hierarchy, giving more power to the manager rather than interfering often.
It is something fans have been crying out for, and pundits alike. Now, Chelsea have a top-class manager and BlueCo have given him the power to work to the fullest of his ability. The ball is in Alonso’s court.
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