Xabi Alonso will have been delighted to see Chelsea end their winless run on Tuesday night, with the Spaniard set to take over from July 1. Gary Cahill is delighted with his appointment.
Alonso has agreed a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge, even though Chelsea have not yet secured a place in Europe next season. In order to win European football for Alonso, they needed to beat Tottenham.
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Despite a nervy finish and Richarlison’s late goal, Chelsea got over the line against Spurs. A sixth win in a row against Roberto De Zerbi’s side, which saw Wesley Fofana tease the Blues’ neighbours on Instagram.
A win against Sunderland and Chelsea could qualify for the Europa League. Alonso will be delighted if the Blues get themselves into Europe, and Cahill can’t wait to watch Chelsea under the Spaniard’s guidance.
Cahill shares his first thoughts after Chelsea announced Alonso
While Alonso will take charge on July 1, there is no doubt that he will be drawing up plans and potential transfer targets ahead of his first game as Chelsea boss against Western Sydney Wanderers on July 28.
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Speaking to Stadium Astro about Alonso’s appointment, Cahill shared what he first thought about the Spaniard moving to Stamford Bridge. He underlined his delight at seeing Chelsea pull off such a coup.
“My first thought was I was quite excited. I think it’s a great appointment for the football club in terms of what he did at Leverkusen, he’s been at Real Madrid as well,” former Chelsea defender Cahill revealed.
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“I think he commands respect straight away coming in for the calibre of player that he was. And I think what’s sometimes different when a manager has been a player, they understand the mentality of players.
“What the players are going through. This is still a young group. I hope he can develop and take the club to the heights of what we expect at Chelsea Football Club but it’s an exciting appointment,” he said.
The European permutations going into Sunderland on Sunday
Chelsea’s dismal season comes to a close on Sunday, but there is still much to play for when the Blues take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Chelsea can still finish in seventh place with an away win.
Chelsea currently sit in eighth, and if they remain in that position, they will qualify for the Conference League. But failure to win and it opens the door for Brentford, while Sunderland can overtake Chelsea too.
A Black Cats win would see Sunderland climb into seventh if Brentford and Brighton fail to win. They both face difficult games against Liverpool and Man United. Alonso will be desperate for Chelsea to qualify.
Especially in the Europa League. Alonso has unfinished business in the Europa League as a manager, losing the final to Atalanta during Leverkusen’s unbeaten league season back in 2023-24.
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