In a rare break from silence, Chelsea’s sporting leadership team and directors have issued a candid letter in tonight’s matchday programme. They admitted that the 2025/26 campaign had failed to meet the standards expected at Stamford Bridge. The address coincides with the Blues’ final home game of the season, a London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, with European qualification still mathematically possible.
It has been a season of extremes for Chelsea. The men’s team won the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup before falling apart in the Premier League with inconsistency. They also endured a turbulent managerial cycle and another painful afternoon at Wembley, losing the FA Cup final. The Blues currently sit just outside the European qualification places with just two games remaining.
The directors bemoaned the failure to deliver on a number of fronts this term but pointed to the win in the FIFA Club World Cup as proof of the squad’s ceiling. Their bid to finish 2025/26 with silverware was scuppered by a tense and tight FA Cup final defeat settled by a moment of brilliance from Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo at Wembley. They stated:
“This is a club that measures itself against the very highest levels, and we know we must do better. That responsibility is clear, and it is one we fully accept.”
Xabi Alonso’s arrival means a reset at Chelsea
One big theme in the directors’ message is the long-awaited capture of Xabi Alonso, whom the leadership hopes will reset the whole footballing project. The Spaniard has penned a four-year contract and will officially take the reins on July 1, 2026, becoming the fifth permanent appointment under the BlueCo era after Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
The 44-year-old has a genuine pedigree after steering Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2024 before a short and largely unsuccessful spell in charge of Real Madrid. Crucially, he’s been appointed as “manager” rather than “head coach”, a deliberate indication of the greater input he’ll have in recruitment and football operations at the club.
Alonso’s first task will be to steer Chelsea back into the mix for the Champions League, with the Blues missing out on Europe’s top table on three of the last four campaigns. The directors ended their address with thanks for the continued backing from supporters and a promise of an improvement heading into the 2026/27 campaign.