Xabi Alonso was officially announced today as Chelsea manager and, genuinely, I really believe in Xabi’s ideas and I believe that, if Chelsea give him the authority he wants, this has every chance of working out. Xabi Alonso and Enzo Maresca were probably the two managers who were dismissed while still being most highly rated heading into the end of this season and the start of next one, because after they left, it became clearer that they were not the real problem.
Xabi Alonso was a victim of a chaotic Real Madrid, where the players had more power than members of the coaching staff. Not all of them, but if you keep one side happy, the other side is not, and that is where the problems begin.
The ship really started sinking with that Vinícius Jr moment, when he was substituted in El Clásico while Madrid were winning and walked straight down the tunnel angry, only focused on himself, without understanding that they play in and for Real Madrid and have to do what is asked of them. The players are not bigger than the club.
We know the quality of the Spaniard, you only need to look at what he did with Leverkusen. I thought he would end up at Liverpool, but Liverpool have a reputation for not constantly changing managers, even with the terrible season Arne Slot is having.
So Alonso could either wait another season without a job or accept another project, and Chelsea do have good players. Most of them are not mature yet, I do not see them as ready, which is why Chelsea now have to sign the players Alonso wants, give him the style and authority he wants. He wants to choose who plays, his way, without looking at names or accepting players just because they earn £200k a week. That does not exist with Xabi Alonso and, if Chelsea truly trust him, I can see a very good future ahead.
Conclusion
Liverpool will continue with Slot, Xabi Alonso was not going to wait any longer and Chelsea have done very well here. For this to work, they have to let him lead, let him do his job and stop trying to impose their own ideas, especially regarding which players should be used. If that happens, I can see a very promising future.