Chelsea has appointed Xabi Alonso as its new manager on a four-year contract, tasking the Spanish tactician with leading a major squad overhaul.
He will officially take charge at Stamford Bridge on July 1, 2026, following the club's eighth-place finish in the Premier League.
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Former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet backed the decision to hire the 44-year-old over Jose Mourinho, who is reportedly returning to Real Madrid.
Poyet noted that a lack of European competition will give Alonso invaluable training time to embed his tactical system.
"I'm delighted with the agreement. I'm really, really happy that Xabi is coming there," Poyet said.
He explained that missing out on Europe provides a massive advantage for rebuilding team identity without weekly continental pressures.
"For Xabi Alonso, it's better. Because he gets more time to work during the week.
When you start playing every week, you don't have time to embed your system properly. Exactly what he did at Leverkusen.
The team needs time. And the time that not playing European football gives you between weekends is invaluable," Poyet added.
The Uruguayan also indicated that moving past the Mourinho nostalgia aligns with the current squad's characteristics. "I love Jose and I thought he was a Chelsea legend forever.
But it's more about the players, not about him," Poyet said.
"I think with Xabi Alonso, it's an opportunity to build something different with the characteristics of the players."
Chelsea legend John Terry threw his full support behind the appointment, emphasizing that players are excited to work under Alonso.
