It has been far too easy for players to find excuses at Chelsea. The coach is not good enough, he’s too inexperienced, he hasn’t won anything, he’s too nice. Theappointment of Xabi Alonsohas stripped all of those away.
The Chelsea owners have stopped experimenting and have killed the culture of excuses that has strangled the club during the BlueCo era by turning to a man ofAlonso’s pedigreeand giving him the title of manager.
Each of Alonso’s predecessors during the BlueCo ownership was called “head coach”. Making the Spaniard their first manager is recognition of his seniority within the set-up and a clear message to the players that he is in charge.
Sure, the owners will remain a target for a section of fans, following a turbulent season that could end without European football. But they have given the players the calibre of manager they craved and now it is on them to perform.
Enzo Fernandez has won a World Cup? So what, Alonso won one with Spain, along with the European Championships. That Club World Cup winners’ badgeon the front of the players’ shirts? Alonso will raise you two Champions Leagues. Think you’re good enough to play for Real Madrid? The Spaniard knows a fair bit about that after spending five years at the Bernabeu as a player.
Thingsmight not have gone to planfor Alonso as a coach at Madrid, but look at their ongoing descent since his departure. The 44-year-old’s time in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the Bundesliga title, commands the greatest respect.
Teenage winger Estevao Willian joked that he could not believe former head coach Liam Rosenior had ever been a professional footballer after watching him fail to control the ball on the touchline at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. If the Brazilian does not already know that Alonso was a supremely gifted player, then he will soon find out at the training ground.
Those who apparently referred to Graham Potter as “Harry Potter” or called Rosenior “the supply teacher” should spend more time worrying about what Alonso thinks of them than dreaming up not-so-clever nicknames.
Alonso’s brief is not only to produce performances and results, but also to raise daily standards by creating a culture of accountability, competitive mentality and collective responsibility. In layman’s terms, no more tossing it off.
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The ridiculous yellow and red cards that Chelsea have collected over the past two seasons must stop. Enzo Maresca got booked and sent off almost as often as his players, while Rosenior could never get to grips with the issue. Alonso has been hired to set the right example on the touchline and demand the same standards of his players, regardless of age or experience.
Chelsea referenced Alonso’s “character and integrity” in their statement to announce his appointment and the former Liverpool midfielder said: “There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.
“From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.
“Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club.”
Alonso’s official start date is July 1, but Chelsea players can rest assured that he will be watching their final two games of the season – against Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland – and will be gathering information on them all.
He will have been impressed by the spirit and effort they showed inthe FA Cup final defeat by Manchester City. But what about now they return to Stamford Bridge, where they haven’t won in the League since January? Or when they travel up to Sunderland, when minds could already be turning to the World Cup or the summer holidays? The next seven days will be instructive for Alonso.
Chelsea have completed their period of “self reflection” and concluded that they need a manager not only with coaching and trophy-winning pedigree, but also a strong character, a leader and somebody who can instil discipline.
But the owners must let him manage. Alonso does not need a pat on the head after the wins or a debrief after the defeats. He does not need to be told what he should or should not say. And he definitely does not needa “cultural architect” to tell the players to huddle around the referee.
That is not to say Alonso should not be collaborative or that Chelsea are wrong not to give him complete control of the club’s football department. Of course, he will need support, he will lean on the different areas of expertise of the football leadership team and he will want a strong bond with the owners. But he must be given the time, patience and – most importantly – trust to do the job his way.
