Xabi Alonso Optimistic as Chelsea Prepares for New Season

Xabi Alonso officially began his role as Chelsea's manager on July 1, 2023, and stated on Monday that there is “good energy” at the club as he aims to improve their performance after a disappointing 10th place finish last season and failure to qualify for Europe. Alonso will lead his first competitive match against Western Sydney Wanderers in Sydney on Tuesday.

He has made several pre-season signings, including Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, and emphasized the need to build a competitive team with the right balance of quality and mentality. Alonso, who previously managed Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten German league and cup double, acknowledged the challenge of reviving Chelsea's fortunes, as they have not won the Premier League in a decade since Antonio Conte's tenure.

He signed a four-year contract and is focused on developing the team with new ideas while maintaining some existing concepts. Alonso refrained from defining specific goals for the season, stating that success would depend on hard work and team development.