Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
The pressure is on Xabi Alonso in his first season as Chelsea manager, wih many people predicting big things.
Chelsea’s pre-season under Xabi Alonso showed promising signs, highlighted by a dominant 3-0 win over AC Milan and a 3-1 victory against Real Sociedad.
Supported by key additions like Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix, Alonso has rapidly reshaped squad depth.
Crucially, with no European football cluttering their midweek schedule, Chelsea hold a massive physical advantage over their domestic rivals. Extra recovery time and full weeks on the training pitch give The Blues a fantastic opportunity to stay fresh and build consistency.
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Gary Neville claims Chelsea can finish second in the Premier League
Speaking on Sky Sports after Arsenal’s win over Coventry City, Gary Neville made the bold prediction that Chelsea can finish second in their first season under Xabi Alonso.
“I think they’re a certainty to finish in the Champions League place. I think they could even be second. They could get nearest to Arsenal. I think the signings of Welbeck and Henderson bring standards, discipline, organization, and guardianship of the dressing room.”
Gary Neville’s claim that Chelsea are set to finish second in the Premier League underlines just how quickly expectations have shifted at Stamford Bridge.
While Neville previously questioned whether the squad had the spine for a sustained title charge in 2025, he believes Xabi Alonso’s arrival may even put them above Manchester City.
As Neville says, the Blues have managed to bring in experience, which was one of the biggest issues last season in winning positions in particular, with no one to take charge in key moments.
However, let’s lower the expectations. Finishing in the Champions League places should be the realistic target, with anything above that being a bonus.