It's hardly been plain sailing for Chelsea over the past few years. The BlueCo era has been choppy, and no mistake. However, the owners may finally be learning from the errors of their ways, not only securing a first-class appointment in Alonso, but acquiescing to his managerial demands, giving him more power, control, influence.
After finishing tenth in the Premier League last season, behind the likes of Bournemouth, Sunderland and Brighton, it's clear that change was needed, and the shift has been felt over the past several weeks in Asia, the Blues growing into their skin across their pre-season tour.
How Alonso is changing things at Chelsea
As far as results are concerned Chelsea have been a mixed bag throughout pre-season, recently dispatching AC Milan 3-0 but previously losing to Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur. Last time out, the Londoners drew 3-3 with Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim.
An intricate, possession-focused style that wrapped itself around this Chelsea squad, but Alonso's tactical ideals have almost been secondary over the past month or two, with the former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager placing emphasis on rebuilding the culture at Stamford Bridge.
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has noted that Alonso has brought "a lot of calm" to the squad, much-needed after last year's startling lack of discipline had an ill-effect on Enzo Maresca and then Liam Rosenior's attempts to progress the project.
Most Red Cards in a Single Premier League Season
Season
Club
Red Cards
|
2011/12
|
QPR
|
9
|
|
2009/20
|
Sunderland
|
9
|
|
2025/26
|
Chelsea
|
8
|
|
2013/14
|
Sunderland
|
8
|
|
2008/09
|
Newcastle
|
8
|
Whether Alonso sets Chelsea up in a back four or three-man defence, he will maintain a narrow midfield and overloads down both flanks, with the likes of £116m signing Morgan Rogers running inside to provide a goal threat.
He will need the midfielders to work overtime, though, and with Enzo Fernandez's Stamford Bridge future in jeopardy, BlueCo appear set on adding a fresh face in the engine room.
Chelsea ready to submit bid for Premier League midfielder
Sadly, Fernandez wants to leave Chelsea, who are standing by their £120m valuation, but may well need to ship him on if they are to land their top targets from elsewhere.
And according to Chelsea insider Simons Phillips, Chelsea are still interested in signing Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, having already seen a £64m bid rejected this summer, they will need to return with an offer reaching £80m.
Alex Scott is the one I keep hearing about and the one that they really want. Obviously, they sent the bid in that was rejected, but Alonso really likes him as well. I have heard that Chelsea have been weighing up a second offer, but it's all about the timing of that offer.
Chelsea were very annoyed that the news of their first offer became public because that's kind of led to Bournemouth to dig their heels in a bit and take a tougher stance.
Chelsea are also engaged in club-to-club talks with Crystal Palace over a potential deal to sign Adam Wharton, but Scott is indeed their top target, hailed as a "special talent" by Bournemouth teammate Lewis Cook.
Scott is a maestro on the ball, silky and smooth, but he's also a combative midfielder. In this, he could be the perfect midfielder to develop under Alonso's wing, sharing a certain likeness with the Blues boss when back in his playing heyday.
Alonso led a storied and celebrated career. He won title upon title with the likes of Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. His sublime range of passing and crispness on the ball made him the perfect profile for elite outfits, and Scott is taking a leaf from his book in that, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United all interested too.
Scott could follow suit here. The 22-year-old dazzled under Andoni Iraola last season, a linchpin for the Cherries in the centre of the park. He is one of the Premier League's finest dribblers, winning duels and ranking among the top 16% of positional peers for defensive contributions and the top 13% for ball recoveries per 90.
He has not yet developed the kind of ranged passing that defined Alonso's career, but after only one season as a first-team regular in the Premier League, he has shown enough to suggest he can grow into that role for a possession-heavy side such as Alonso's Chelsea.
Alonso, 44, was once among the finest technicians in football. He probably still is, with Chelsea's players marvelling at his ball-playing ability even several years after hanging up the laces
Taking Scott under his wing, he could develop a future superstar, an English midfielder with the progressive nature and confidence in his own skillset to win Chelsea titles.
1 week ago
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REUTERS/David Klein
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