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Three Tactical Red Flags Xabi Alonso Brings to Chelsea Following Official Appointment

Posted : 17 May 2026

Chelsea have officially appointed Xabi Alonso as their permanent manager for next season. The former Spanish midfielder signed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge, with his tenure set to begin on July 1, 2026. He will replace Liam Rosenior, who was dismissed in April after a dismal run of five straight league defeats without scoring. The London club sits ninth in the Premier League table and faces a major rebuilding phase.

While the appointment has brought excitement to the fan base, Alonso brings several critical red flags from his previous managerial stints. The major concern surrounding the tactician is his sudden dismissal from Real Madrid in January 2026. Alonso lasted just seven months into his three-year contract in the Spanish capital before parting ways by mutual consent. Internal clashes with high-profile squad players and president Florentino Perez cut his tenure short despite a solid overall win percentage.

Another glaring warning sign is Alonso’s historic struggles to get his teams prepared for heavyweight battles. He achieved legendary status at Bayer Leverkusen by winning an undefeated domestic double. However, his team faltered badly in the 2024 Europa League final, losing 3-0 to Atalanta. The German outfit looked completely uncompetitive throughout that entire match.

The worrying trend continued during the subsequent Champions League campaign with Leverkusen. His side was comprehensively eliminated 5-0 on aggregate by Bayern Munich in the round of 16. Leverkusen failed to score a single goal across both legs against an opponent they knew perfectly.

This inability to win high-profile games followed him to the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid suffered severe defeats under his watch, including a 4-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semifinals. They also dropped crucial matches to Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester City. The English Premier League will provide an even more relentless weekly challenge for the Spanish manager.

 

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