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Fabrizio Romano and multiple UK media outlets confirmed hours after Chelsea's 0-1 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup final that Xabi Alonso will take over as Chelsea's head coach, with an official announcement possibly coming on Sunday. What exactly does
Alonso need to do after arriving at Chelsea?
What is his top priority?
He needs to overhaul Chelsea because, without a doubt, by the club's standards, they have endured a terrible season. They are likely to finish in the bottom half of the league table. This season was supposed to build on last season's performance, make further progress, secure a return to the Champions League, and possibly even challenge for the title. So, they have taken a huge step backward. He needs to address this issue.
Interestingly, there is no European qualification - losing the FA Cup today likely closes the door to the Europa League as well. We know they won't make the Champions League and probably won't make the Europa League either. If they finish eighth, maybe the Conference League? Perhaps he can focus entirely on domestic competitions without the distraction of European football, similar to what Michael Carrick did at Manchester United.
It can be argued that Chelsea have some very, very good world-class players. They have proven this. But throughout the league campaign, they have been unable to maintain consistency. Many will say this is due to the players and squad lacking experience and leadership. This is what Xabi Alonso can bring, and it's something they hope to address in this summer's transfer window. Either way, choosing Xabi Alonso is a bit of a gamble. It's easy to stand here and say "what a fantastic appointment, incredible resume, incredible player, Chelsea have hit the jackpot", but let's not forget that every managerial appointment carries risks. I think Alonso's risks are: first, his lack of Premier League experience, and second, his very close ties to Liverpool - even though he also played for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Regarding the impact of no European football and what Michael Carrick did at Manchester United, that's a very good point. Maybe no European distractions will help him. This has happened at Chelsea before. After 10 years,a season when they finished tenth. The next season Antonio Conte arrived, and they won the Premier League title. So they have a precedent for this. Maybe eighth place and the Conference League are distractions they don't particularly want. We'll have to wait and see.
Why no return to Liverpool?
Liverpool have absolutely no interest. They have decided to keep Arne Slot. He also stated this at his press conference on Thursday. He has every reason to believe he will still be Liverpool's manager next season. If you have read or heard Xabi Alonso's past remarks, I think one day in the future, he would like to become Liverpool's manager. If he were to map out his ideal career path, it would include managing Liverpool one day. But currently, the Liverpool managerial position is not vacant, and Liverpool have not made a move for him. They have long known he could take over. If they had decided to change direction, they could have contacted him and made formal approaches, but this did not happen. I know many Liverpool fans want him back, but he can't call Liverpool and beg them to come for him. He can only accept the jobs offered to him. And he knows Chelsea really, really want him. That's why he agreed to become Chelsea's new head coach.
First Manager to Participate in Club Management Since BlueCo Takeover
Chelsea will not only end this season without any silverware, but they also face the danger of dropping into the bottom half of the Premier League for the second time in four years. This is a team that has suffered a six-game losing streak in the league for the first time
since 1993, and their last home win in the top flight dates back to January 31.
Typically, such poor results would make a coach of Alonso's caliber think carefully about accepting the job, but clearly he hasn't. This says something.
Fans may now find it difficult to think about, or even accept, any positive aspects. However, there is indeed a group of talented players in the core of the team. All they need is a coach who can inspire them. Chelsea clearly believe that Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to a league and cup double in Germany two years ago, is that person.
Despite the team's recent form, the starting lineup against Manchester City made Guardiola's side look ordinary for long periods, until Jeremy Doku scored a goal worthy of winning any FA Cup final. Alonso will surely be happy to build his Chelsea team around some of the players from this defeated side.
Two excellent academy graduates - captain Reece James and Levi Colwill - are also among them. Due to Colwill suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear on the first day of pre-season, this was the first time the two had played together for the first team since winning the Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain last July. In his third appearance of the 2025-26 season, Colwill once again proved why he is hailed as one of the best defenders in the country. After overcoming his injury problems, James is undoubtedly the club's best player. Moises Caicedo, although his form declined in the 2026 season, is still a top midfielder. The same can be said for Enzo Fernández, though his situation is more complicated. Unlike Caicedo, Enzo has not yet renewed his contract with the club.
Both Enzo and another important veteran Marc Cucurella criticized the club's decisions back in March. Alonso has the ability to help these two players reconcile... if they are willing. There is no doubt that Cole Palmer's performance has been disappointing, but this is mainly due to various problems caused by injuries rather than a lack of ability. Against Manchester City, Palmer was almost non-existent in the final third.
However, if Alonso can return him to the form he showed in the first 18 months after joining Chelsea, or like when he toyed with Paris Saint-Germain's defense last July, he can clearly make a huge difference.
Chelsea's summer transfer window last year was unsuccessful, which largely led to the team's current predicament. Two of the most disappointing signings - Liam Delap and Alejandro Garnacho - came on as substitutes at Wembley and once again failed to make any impact. But Joao Pedro and Hato have become models of success. You can tell that Manchester City players are wary of Pedro, and despite not taking any penalties, he still ranks fourth in the Premier League scoring charts. Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Hato once again showed composure and calmness. Chelsea's lack of firepower on the flanks will be repeatedly mentioned, as interim manager Calum McFarlane chose Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella to play as full-backs. If Estêvão Willian had not suffered a season-ending hamstring injury against Manchester United on April 18, the Brazilian winger's nimble feet would surely have been put to good use. Chelsea have reached an agreement with Sporting CP to sign talented Portuguese U21 international winger Giovanni Quenda. Notably, Belgian international Mike Penders has performed well during his loan spell at RC Strasbourg and is expected to replace Robert Sanchez as the new number one goalkeeper.
This is perhaps what everyone should expect, but at least Chelsea showed fighting spirit and did not concede defeat easily like they did in the 0-3 league loss to the same opponent on April 12. They proved to Alonso the team's resilience and tenacity. What the new head coach needs to do now is ensure they don't hold back when it matters most. Insiders at the club, including Alonso himself, will not be fooled. Chelsea's squad lacks depth and urgently needs strengthening. The next transfer window is crucial.
They have neither the prestige of the Champions League nor sufficient financial rewards to attract new signings. In fact, they are likely to miss out on European football altogether, as there are two league games remaining and they currently sit ninth. Previously, Chelsea head coaches have also been involved in the recruitment process for BlueCo. But Alonso's status as head coach suggests he is more likely to have greater say. This also indicates that Chelsea have learned some lessons from their frustrating season. Anonymous club sources told the media that Alonso has reached a consensus with the club on the team's development and transfer market needs. Moreover, like the club, Alonso believes the team has some players worth developing, but there are also areas that need improvement and strengthening.
