Xabi Alonso has delivered a clear message to his Chelsea squad on his first day as head coach, insisting there will be no shortcuts as he begins the task of rebuilding the club.
The Spaniard officially started work at Cobham on Thursday after taking charge on a four-year contract, inheriting a Chelsea side looking to recover from a disappointing 2025/26 campaign that saw Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior both leave the club.
Addressing his players for the first time, Alonso stressed that commitment and collective effort would form the foundation of his project.
“You can’t hold back anything, everything is for the team,” Alonso said.
“Hard work is a must. We need to create that culture, it starts here in a daily process at Cobham.”
The former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager admitted Chelsea’s talented squad was one of the biggest reasons he accepted the role.
“The potential of the team and squad made me really excited, to find a squad to work with, create a football idea, bring excitement to the stadium and connect with the fans,” he said.
“It feels great, but it’s a big honour. To be part of this great club that is one of the best in the world with great success in the last decades. It’s a big privilege and now I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Alonso also sent an encouraging message to Chelsea supporters, acknowledging the need to rebuild the connection between the team and the Stamford Bridge faithful after several turbulent seasons.
“I know the energy that this stadium has and we need to create that energy and this bond with all the parts,” he said.
“The message is we want to share that belief that good things will come if we are together and we create this strength. It has to come from us to bring the energy, but together we can achieve great things in the coming years.”
The 44-year-old believes now is the ideal stage of his coaching career to take on the challenge of managing in the Premier League after previous spells in Germany and Spain.
“It’s the right timing for me, after my experience in Germany and in Spain,” Alonso explained.
“I was always excited about trying some time in the Premier League, and it came at the right moment, in the right club, with a good opportunity and feeling.”
Chelsea begin a new era under Alonso with hopes of returning to the Premier League’s top four and restoring the club’s reputation as one of Europe’s leading forces. His immediate focus, however, is on establishing the winning culture he believes is essential for long-term success.
