Former Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards has backed Chelsea’s move to appoint Xabi Alonso as their new manager.
Alonso has joined Chelsea on a four-year deal and will officially begin work on 1 July.
Many Chelsea supporters are excited about the Spaniard’s appointment, and Richards has also endorsed the move.
It’s going to be a big summer for Xabi Alonso and Chelsea!
Xabi Alonso graphic
Photo by Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Micah Richards thinks Xabi Alonso’s experience makes him ‘perfect’ for Chelsea
In contrast to his predecessor Liam Rosenior, Alonso has managed at a big club before and has won trophies.
The 44-year-old was in charge of Real Madrid for seven months after winning the Bundesliga title and German Cup at Bayer Leverkusen.
Considering that, Richards believes that Alonso is ideal for Chelsea, but only if he has control at the club.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Richards said: “A manager who’s won trophies, he’s managed at a big club, he’s experienced. I think it’s a perfect fit if he has control on recruitment.”
Micah Richards
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
It has been widely reported that Alonso will have a big say on recruitment at Chelsea. Alonso has been given the title of “manager” instead of head coach, suggesting that his role goes beyond simply training the team and managing them in games.
It will now be interesting to see just how much of a say Alonso is actually given and whether Chelsea move goalposts now that they have acquired their man.
Xabi Alonso was the best name out there for Chelsea
Chelsea could not have appointed a more suitable candidate for their manager’s job than Alonso, especially after Rosenior’s failure, which highlighted how much the team needed someone with pedigree.
Andoni Iraola and Cesc Fabregas were both linked to the Blues and have done well at Bournemouth and Como respectively.
But Alonso’s experience at Real Madrid and Leverkusen made him a much safer bet. That, his CV, tactics and playing career really did make the Spaniard perfect for Chelsea, as Richards mentioned.
The club now need to give him all the support he requires and actually listen to his voice when it comes to transfer matters. If they do that, Alonso could achieve something special during his time in west London.
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