Chelsea fans are excited about the future with Xabi Alonso at the helm, however club legend Ashley Cole has warned the Blues to not treat him how the likes of Liam Rosenior and Enzo Maresca were.
The Blues announced Xabi Alonso would take over next season within 48 hours of the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City, and he will take over following Calum McFarlane’s interim reign.
There were fears after the Liam Rosenior experiment that the club would not be able to attract any top names for the job after his nightmare three months at the helm.
Where will Chelsea be in the table by 6pm on Sunday afternoon?😬
7th and 8th are the European places!
Chelsea Premier League table on final day of the season
Via – GRV Media
Ashley Cole warns Chelsea to allow Xabi Alonso to have control
However, they have convinced the former Real Madrid boss to join under the title of manager rather than head coach.
While Ashley Cole is a huge fan of the appointment, he has warned the club to make sure they allow him the control that those who came before him were not afforded in order to succeed.
He said to The Athletic: “On paper, it is a great appointment — albeit paper is not a real reflection of what is going to happen. We just hope we get to see the Alonso we saw at Leverkusen.
FBL-KSA-SUPERCUP-BARCELONA-REAL MADRID
Photo by Fadel SENNA / AFP via Getty Images
“He did a great job. The tools were there for him, but you still have to execute everything you know. The players have to buy into it. He went to Madrid, and there were different challenges for him. I don’t think his skill set has diminished or changed because of what happened. It is still the same skill set he left Bayer with.
“Being crowned a champion (with Leverkusen) is his reference. If he is allowed to implement the style and what he wants, how he sees the club going forward, for sure, he will be a success.
“But if it is like the others, the coaches there before him, then no. It does not matter who you get in the job, to change people’s mindset and challenge them with change, it is difficult. If he is allowed to thrive and be himself, then for sure he will be a great appointment.”
What formation do you want to see Xabi Alonso deploy at Chelsea?👀
Feeling a 4-2-3-1!
Which formation should Chelsea use under Xabi Alonso
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Ashley Cole on his own managerial journey
Cole has followed in the footsteps of fellow former Blue Cesc Fabregas by starting his coaching career in Italy with Cesena.
Despite impressing initially, Cole has divided the chiefs at the club with what he has delivered during his first season at the helm.
Cole wanted John Terry to join him on the coaching staff in Italy, although was unsuccessful in that venture.
It remains to be seen if Cole will enjoy the same level of success as former Chelsea stars Frank Lampard and Fabregas when it comes to the managerial side of the game.
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