It is a month until Xabi Alonso officially takes office at Chelsea, with the Spaniard set to start work on July 1, and Michael Essien believes the pressure will be on Alonso immediately.
Alonso has signed a four-year contract as Chelsea’s next manager, off the back of a woeful campaign in which Chelsea failed to qualify for any format of European football. Alonso, though, will be given power.
What is Xabi Alonso’s number one priority as soon as he walks through those doors?🤔
Xabi Alonso's priority as Chelsea manager
Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
It is difficult to gauge what Chelsea’s expectations will be next season. Alonso inherits a young squad with huge potential, but one that lacks any kind of leadership and, after finishing in tenth place, are in disarray.
Chelsea are expected to address that, and bring in some more senior options for Alonso to choose from. Michael Essien has had his say on Alonso, and believes the pressure will be on the new gaffer’s shoulders.
Michael Essien believes Xabi Alonso has to win a trophy
In his 18 months as Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca won both the Club World Cup and the Conference League. Just six months after winning those trophies, he was sacked. Pressure on a Chelsea boss is huge.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, Essien believes Alonso will have to win a trophy to keep BlueCo happy next term. That task has been made all the more difficult given Chelsea won’t be competing in European football.
Xabi Alonso, Manager of Bayer 04 Leverkusen looks on
Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
“When you look back at what he’s done at Leverkusen, things didn’t work out at Madrid, but I think it’s a good appointment. We have to give him the support and hopefully he can change things,” Essien said.
“Chelsea are expected to win things, so it’s been a disappointing season; these things happen, but everyone is expecting them to win a trophy next season,” Essien continued, discussing Chelsea’s season.
Asked what Alonso needs to do to keep BlueCo happy, he said: “It’ll be down to how they play, when they start winning, everyone will say they can win a trophy – but this is Chelsea, they have to win a trophy.”
Why things will be different this time around under Alonso
Alonso becomes the fifth permanent appointment made by Chelsea’s owners since their takeover in 2022. It feels like a new era, after spells under Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
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Players of Chelsea form a huddle
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Of course, Alonso has been named manager and not head coach unlike the four appointments that came in before him. Behdad Eghbali has spoken of a realisation that Chelsea need to sign some leadership.
Some experience to guide these young players through the ups and downs of a season. Matt Law says that Alonso will have the same power in the transfer market as Chelsea’s quintet of sporting directors.
BlueCo have realised – eventually – that a manager needs the keys to start the car. They cannot get the engine rolling without all the tools and finally, they have given that power to the man in the dugout.
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