Xabi Alonso: Timing took me to Chelsea rather than Liverpool

"It's about timings" — why Xabi Alonso chose to join Chelsea

By Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says his decision to join the club was "about timings."

The 44-year-old was unveiled to the world's media on Monday after being appointed in May and beginning work on the training pitch last week.

It was the first opportunity to ask why Alonso — who won an array of honours as a player at Liverpool, including the Champions League in 2005 — had not ended up managing his former club.

Asked by BBC Sport why he joined Chelsea rather than Liverpool, Alonso said:

"Well, it is about timings. I am here today on my first day at Stamford Bridge, talking to you. I am looking forward to this challenge, a big challenge, and Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs and I am looking forward to having success here."

BBC Sport previously reported that Alonso had not been in contact with Liverpool in the weeks before taking the Chelsea job.

Liverpool, meanwhile, had been expected to stick with manager Arne Slot when Alonso was appointed, before making the "difficult decision" to sack Slot after a trophyless second season in charge.

Slot's replacement, Andoni Iraola, is a childhood friend of Alonso's from their native San Sebastian and shares the same agent.

Chelsea is the way 'it should be'

Alonso is Chelsea's sixth permanent manager in four years under the club's American owners BlueCo, led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

His predecessors Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior held the title of head coach rather than manager. Alonso arrives with the loftier title of manager — which insiders say is not insignificant — though he will still have to work with the five-strong sporting director team on recruiting players.

Asked whether being given that title was important in giving him more authority, Alonso replied:

"What I like is that we work together and we are all part of the decisions we take, we all feel responsible for that. The ultimate goal is clear and, for me, it is the way it should be.

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"We are confident that we are doing the right things in the right way. The potential is there. I think there is a strong base and a good team already there.

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"We need to reinforce it in the right way and take good decisions to do that. The feeling is that we are aligned with the sporting directors. The ultimate goal is to have a good team, build the right squad and we are in that moment."

Chelsea missed out on European qualification after losing away to Sunderland on the final day of the Premier League season and finishing 10th.

That has had implications as Chelsea look to reduce the size of their squad, while a disappointing end to the campaign saw star players such as Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro miss out on international call-ups for the World Cup.

Alonso has benefited from more time on the training pitch, with the majority of his squad already available during pre-season. He has also seen Palmer return positive and hungry after missing out on an England call-up.

"So far we have been together for a few days and he has come in with a positive mindset and positive spirit. He wants to enjoy playing football," Alonso continued.

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"He is a special player, a different class with a different quality, and if we help him by building a team around him that allows his talent to shine, we will be closer to success. I am sure of that."

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