Xabi Alonso will be tasked with getting Chelsea back in Europe in his debut season as manager and his job will be so much easier if he can get Cole Palmer back to his best
07:00, 11 Jun 2026
Xabi Alonso and Florian Wirtz
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Xabi Alonso got the best out of Florian Wirtz during their days together at Bayer Leverkusen(Image: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto)
If Xabi Alonso was to sit down and write a to-do list when he gets his feet under the desk as Chelsea manager, there is no doubt that getting Cole Palmer back to his best would be towards the top of the agenda.
Alonso's list may well span over two pages; such are the amount of areas in need of improvement at Stamford Bridge following a dismal 2025/26 campaign. The form of Palmer should be right at the top, though, given his game-changing abilities when he is at the top of his game.
At the moment, with a few weeks until Alonso officially starts his job on July 1, we are none the wiser when it comes to the sort of system/formation the incoming Chelsea manager will play. If he reverts back to the 3-4-2-1 that he had great success with during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, then that could spell good news for Palmer.
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If Palmer was to be used in that sort of formation, he might well deploy the right-sided No.10 role. In a sense, it is somewhere in the middle of the two main positions - right wing and No.10 - we have seen the 24-year-old play in during his time at Stamford Bridge.
For Leverkusen, Alonso often used Florian Wirtz, of course now at Liverpool after moving last summer for a reported £1116million, as the left-sided No.10. During their time working together, Alonso got the very best out of Wirtz, who struggled in his debut season at Liverpool.
Florian Wirtz
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Florian Wirtz struggled in his debut season for Liverpool(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA)
Wirtz played 119 matches in all competitions under Alonso and the Germany international managed to find the net 38 times while providing 43 assists to his Leverkusen colleagues. The Liverpool playmaker has spoke glowingly about Alonso and his abilities in the past.
Speaking in November 2023, Wirtz said: "I feel extremely valued under him. I feel the trust. That's really important, especially as a young player. He gives me a lot of freedom on the pitch and always has a tip on what I can do better."
Wirtz added: "He played at the very highest level as a professional. It's great to have such a legend as a coach. Xabi knows exactly what makes a team tick."
Palmer and Wirtz are comparable in many ways; they are both mavericks who are match-winners when they are at their very best. And both underperformed last season. Fortunately for Palmer, he has Alonso, who has shown with Wirtz in the past how he can get the best out of a No.10, to work with next season.
Chelsea star Cole Palmer
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Cole Palmer struggled to find his best level in the 2025/26 season(Image: MI News/NurPhoto)
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Alonso has been boosted by the fact he will have more time to work with Palmer this summer before the real business gets underway in August. Thomas Tuchel left the Chelsea attacker out of his England squad for the upcoming World Cup after a disappointing season.
It is no secret Palmer struggled with persistent muscular injuries last term - particularly with his groin - and having a few weeks off to relax before starting pre-season training may well do the Englishman the world of good.