**Xabi Alonso** believes that an important characteristic of his Chelsea side will be that they need a hunger to succeed.
Despite a successful **2024/25 season** under **Enzo Maresca**, where the Blues qualified for the **UEFA Champions League** for the first time since the 2022/23 season, and also won both the **UEFA Europa Conference League** and the **FIFA Club World Cup**, 25/26 was a dismal season, with Maresca, **Liam Rosenior**, and **Callum McFarlane** all having spells in the **Stamford Bridge** dugout.
Starting fresh
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_“Yes, I am sure, and I have felt already that they want to have a good season, especially after last year, \[but now\] we are starting from zero. With some new faces, from the staff to the manager._
_“They are really keen on what we are doing; you can see that the energy is good, and the excitement is there._
_“We need to prepare well; the time is there, and I said it is really important that we build the right mentality to compete. We build the right basics, the right essentials on a daily basis, to be ready for the weekends."_
Hunger to compete in the Premier League
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> Alonso took training for the first time as Chelsea manager on Friday (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
_“You need to have hunger, passion for the game, want to improve; we are coming into the Premier League, such a competitive league, so we need to be very determined._
_“We need to be really determined in the details, really strong on our basics, how we want to play. We will have time for that, but these are the most important pillars in our game."_
Ready for the task at hand
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_“The Premier League is the most competitive league in the world right now; it is a challenge to come here, but I am really excited about accepting it, improving and learning together, and the history of Chelsea is there, because of their success, because of so many great players, so many great managers._
_"I see some pictures of them, some of these guys. I feel honoured, privileged and ready for the work.”_