Chelsea fans were pleased when the club announced that Xabi Alonso would be taking over as manager, but the former Real Madrid boss now needs to deliver.
Alonso is going to want time, and at some stage next season, expect the 44-year-old to remind everyone of just that when Chelsea suffer their first dip.
But this is Chelsea, which means whether it is his first season or 10th, there are objectives that must be met.
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Xabi Alonso graphic
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Champions League qualification with or without Granit Xhaka
Qualifying for the Champions League will obviously be the main goal for Alonso and his team. Alonso has already suffered an early blow, with his former player Granit Xhaka unlikely to join him at Stamford Bridge.
Alonso was keen for a reunion in west London, but Xhaka is now set to remain at Sunderland.
It is a setback, as Xhaka was a key player for Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen and one of the leaders in the German club’s dressing room.
Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, greets Granit Xhaka
Photo by Hesham Elsherif/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Alonso clearly felt that Chelsea could have benefited from that as they look to finish in the top four and return to Europe’s elite competition. But a deal now appears to be off the table.
Whether that gets revived or not, Alonso still needs to bring Champions League football back to west London. That is why he has been hired.
FA Cup or Carabao Cup success
Winning the FA Cup or Carabao Cup will not matter to some, especially if Chelsea do go on to qualify for the Champions League. However, since Roman Abramovich’s takeover of the club in 2003, the Blues have competed for silverware in almost every season.
That should not change. Chelsea need to continue competing for major honours, especially after all the recent investment in the squad.
To have a campaign that Chelsea fans can truly remember, Alonso needs Champions League qualification and cup success.
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