Xabi Alonso takes Chelsea helm, urges hunger and ambition

Xabi Alonso officially began his tenure as Chelsea's head coach on Monday, July 13, 2026, using his inaugural press conference at Stamford Bridge to call for a renewed culture of hunger and ambition at the club. The 44-year-old Spaniard, who signed a four-year contract, emphasized that instilling a collective desire to win is the foundational step for a team coming off a disappointing tenth-place finish in the Premier League.

Alonso identified securing European football as a clear objective for the upcoming season, stating it was "for sure a goal." He cautioned, however, that achieving it requires meticulous planning and establishing a unified team identity. "To reach that goal, you need to do many right things," Alonso said. "How do we want to play? How do we want to see ourselves? How do we want to approach a game wherever we go? That's my job." He expressed eagerness to work with his full squad, acknowledging the club has "some bids" in the transfer market but that it remains "early days."

The new manager directly addressed the future of key midfielder Enzo Fernandez, confirming he has spoken with the Argentine international and wants him to stay at Stamford Bridge. Fernandez...