Todd Boley and Xabi Alonso (Photo: Justin Setterfield, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Chelsea appear to be close to hiring Xabi Alonso as their next manager, with other key details revealed regarding his impending appointment.
The Spanish tactician has impressed during his relatively short coaching career so far, particularly when winning the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen, and would be a great appointment for Chelsea next season.
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But perhaps even more important is the news from journalist Guillem Balague that Chelsea’s owners appear to be willing to modify their approach a bit and give the manager more control.
Things haven’t gone quite to plan so far, with rapid changes in both managers and players since Todd Boley and Behada Egbali took over from Roman Abramovich.
Even with many Chelsea fans considering how to purchase tickets for Chelsea vs. Tottenham, it’s also worth noting that there has been a lot of anger among the Stamford Bridge crowd recently, so those in attendance may continue to air their frustrations with the owners.
Chelsea could use a little more stability and perhaps a little more real football expertise.
Xabi Alonso has already given Chelsea a big win
According to Balague, this could already be Alonso’s first big win as he prepares to take the Chelsea job.
“I have heard from sources very close to Chelsea’s decision-makers that Chelsea intend to adjust the system to give the manager more say. This is Xavi’s first win and he has never been stronger than when negotiating a transfer to the club,” Balague posted on X (formerly Twitter).
This will no doubt be music to the ears of CFC supporters, but many of them are clearly not happy with how this season has unfolded.
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The Stamford Bridge crowd booed the team following the poor result, and there was also an outcry against the owners.
If Chelsea can change their approach a bit now and give Alonso more power to mold the team into his own mold, it might be for the best in the long run.
Of course, there are some risks with that approach, but Alonso seems like a good enough manager that it’s worth giving him the keys and trusting him to build something that will benefit the club in the long term.
