Chelsea starting new season with good energy, says Alonso

New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has injected a sense of optimism into the club, stating that the team is starting the new season with "good energy." The Spaniard, who officially took charge on July 1, faces the significant task of revitalizing Chelsea after their 10th-place finish last season and failure to qualify for European competitions.

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We want to build a competitive team. We are in that process. We have great quality, great talent.

Alonso, who guided Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten domestic double in the 2023/24 season, expressed satisfaction with what he has observed so far. "We want to build a competitive team. We are in that process. We have great quality, great talent," he said. He emphasized the need for the squad to understand the demands of competing in the Premier League, aiming for a balance of "quality and mentality."

Reflecting on his tactical approach, Alonso indicated a preference for flexibility. While known for his short-passing game and the 3-4-2-1 system at Leverkusen, he plans to adapt to Chelsea's existing structure. "We will be flexible in our tactics, in our approaches, game plans," he stated, clarifying that his aim is to "update" and "develop something that they have done with new concepts" rather than a complete overhaul. He noted that many existing elements align with his preferences, allowing for a smoother transition.

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But I think that we are starting the new season with good energy, that’s going to be important.

Despite the pressure to end Chelsea's decade-long Premier League title drought, Alonso remained cautious about setting specific goals for his first season. "I don’t want to talk too early about what’s our goal," the 44-year-old said, having signed a four-year contract. "We want to be as high as possible, and for that we need to work hard. We need to develop this team with new players, with new ideas, but sometimes it takes longer, sometimes it happens quicker."

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We will be flexible in our tactics, in our approaches, game plans.

Alonso's first competitive match as Chelsea manager will be in Sydney against the Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday. His tenure at Real Madrid was brief, lasting only seven months, but his success with Bayer Leverkusen has generated considerable excitement about his potential impact at Stamford Bridge.

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I don’t want to talk too early about what’s our goal. We want to be as high as possible, and for that we need to work hard.