Football NewsMirror FootballUnverified source· 4 Aug 2026
Alonso's Chelsea Challenge: 46-Man Squad and Chaos
Xabi Alonso steps into Chelsea's chaotic world, facing a 46-player squad and baffling transfers.
Xabi Alonso
coach
Squad size
46 players
League finish
10th last season
What happened. Xabi Alonso has become Chelsea's new manager, inheriting a bloated squad and a confusing transfer strategy.
- Chelsea's transfer approach has been described as confused and chaotic.
- Alonso acknowledged concerns before taking the job.
- He aims to build momentum and a good team.
“I had a view of Chelsea from the outside. I could see the positives and my concerns so I addressed them.”
— Xabi Alonso
Alonso will need time to overhaul the squad and improve on last season's 10th-place finish.
In this story
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What we learned from Mykhailo Mudryk's first Chelsea appearance in two years, the 'devastating' new combination that will terrorise defences and why Xabi Alonso was left frustrated in defeat by Juventus
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Every word Xabi Alonso said on how Mudryk reacted to return, Chelsea defeat, Palmer and Colwill
