Xabi Alonso has spoken candidly about his difficult spell at Real Madrid as he prepares to lead a significant cultural overhaul at Chelsea this season.
The 44-year-old, who won the World Cup with Spain in 2010, joined Chelsea after leaving Real Madrid by mutual consent following reported disputes with key players including Vinicius Jr.
“Luckily, there are not too many scars in my career,” Alonso said of the Madrid exit. “I got a scar, now it is healed and I am determined to enjoy this next step as I did when I started in Madrid.”
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder spent the four months between leaving Madrid and joining Chelsea using that time to “reset energy” before committing to Stamford Bridge.
Alonso held discreet meetings in London and his hometown of San Sebastian over three weeks in early May to ensure Chelsea was the right fit for him.
“I had a view of Chelsea from the outside,” he explained, adding that he carefully addressed both positives and concerns with the club’s sporting directors before agreeing to the role.
“We had the same ideas, the same analysis, to start building momentum together. That is why we are taking these steps together and making decisions to build a good team.”
Chelsea have already moved decisively in the transfer market, securing £117m forward Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa despite competition from Premier League champions Arsenal for his signature.
Full-back Marco Palestra has also arrived from Atalanta, while talks remain open over left-sided option Pep Chavarria of Rayo Vallecano as Alonso looks to build a squad in his image.
Striker Danny Welbeck, 35, is set to join the squad after his arrival was confirmed, with the experienced forward expected to provide cover for Joao Pedro and a positive dressing-room influence.
Midfielder Jordan Henderson, 36, is also expected to arrive, with Chelsea having been unable to secure Alonso’s former Bayer Leverkusen captain Granit Xhaka from Sunderland.
Henderson, who served under England manager Thomas Tuchel at this summer’s World Cup, is expected to help drive standards as a vocal leader, something Chelsea have been lacking.
“You need the right balance of personalities and stages of maturity, with players in their early 20s, early 30s and everything in between,” Alonso said of reshaping his squad.
The additions reflect a deliberate attempt to address problems that plagued Chelsea last season, including perceived indiscipline, vulnerability at set-pieces, and a lack of genuine dressing-room leadership.
“In the Basque Country, we have a strong sense of collective purpose and culture,” Alonso said, making clear that rebuilding that sense of collective identity is central to his plans.
Alonso has been putting himself at the heart of training sessions during Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Australia, impressing players with his passing range on the training pitch at Sydney FC’s home, Sky Park.
Centre-back Levi Colwill admitted he feels “jealous” watching his new manager perform during sessions, a sign of the immediate respect Alonso has commanded within the squad.
Despite Chelsea finishing 10th last season and without silverware, Alonso remains bullish about the club’s underlying potential and the direction of travel under his leadership.
“The situation was not as bad as it looked at the end of last season,” he said. “There is big potential to improve and let’s see how long it takes.”
When asked what ultimately drove him to take the job, Alonso pointed first to his heart, then his head, before gesturing to his stomach and insisting the decision had to come from the gut.
“It has to come from the gut. I felt it was good timing for the club and good timing for myself. It was a good opportunity and I felt I had the chance to enjoy being a manager.”
