Xabi Alonso has been nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Month award for October after a strong month for Chelsea. This puts him up against a host of formidable opponents, including Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Roberto De Zerbi (Tottenham), Unai Emery (Aston Villa), Fabian Hurzeler (Brighton) and Marco Rose (Bournemouth).
Alonso has been nominated for the second time this season after his side scored nine goals and won three of their four league games. No team scored more than Chelsea in October, and they let in only three.
A 5-1 win over Bournemouth got the month off to a flyer, with Jordan Henderson and Joao Pedro both scoring twice. Pedro Neto hit two against Everton, and the Blues ended the month with a 2-0 win over 10-man Manchester United to return to the top four.
However, Alonso was beaten by one of his fellow nominees. In a 2-0 defeat on October 24, Alonso’s men fell to De Zerbi’s Tottenham, who secured a deserved victory in west London. The match saw an own goal from Mike Penders and a red card for Cole Palmer. It was only the second time Spurs have won a league game at Stamford Bridge in the last 36 years, and they went unbeaten in October to help them escape the bottom three.
Marco Rose is also a tricky opponent, considering he only lost once in October, and that was the heavy defeat to Chelsea. Arteta is the only nominee to win all of his league games. The public vote closes at 12:00 GMT on Monday 9 November, and fan votes will be combined with those of an expert panel before the winner is announced on Friday 13 November.
Chelsea Travel to Bottom-Placed Sunderland
Alonso will have his hands full this weekend as they travel to the Stadium of Light to take on a Sunderland side currently sitting at the bottom of the Premier League. Regis Le Bris’s side have only collected five points in their opening nine games, a massive dip from their good start to life back in the top flight.
Le Bris is not thought to be under immediate threat, and Sunderland have looked much more convincing in the Europa League. Their squad has also been tested this season, playing in four competitions.
Chelsea will miss Maxence Lacroix, who is still recovering from a hamstring tear. However, Romeo Lavia has been in great form recently, and Alonso will be boosted in the middle of the park. If they win, they should stay in the top four going into the international break in November.