New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has called on the club’s supporters to unite behind his vision, assuring them that success will follow if players, staff and fans work together.
Speaking in his first official interview since taking charge, published on Chelsea’s website after joining the squad at Cobham for the start of pre-season, Alonso said reconnecting the team with the Stamford Bridge faithful will be a key priority.
“The message is that we want to share that belief that good things will come if we are together and we create this strength, this power that the club has,” Alonso said.
“It has to come from us to bring this energy, but together we can achieve great things in the coming years.”
The former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid coach said Chelsea’s talented squad was a major factor in his decision to accept the role, expressing confidence that the club can return to competing at the highest level.
“The potential of the team and squad made me really excited—to find a group to work with, create a football identity, bring excitement to the stadium and reconnect with the fans,” he said.
Alonso also made it clear that commitment, discipline and hard work will form the foundation of his tenure at Stamford Bridge.
“You can’t hold back anything; everything is for the team. Hard work is a must. We need to create that culture. It starts here in the daily process at Cobham,” he added.
The 44-year-old described his appointment as Chelsea manager as a tremendous honour, saying the move marks the right time to begin his Premier League coaching journey after successful spells in Germany and Spain.
“It feels great, but it’s a huge honour to be part of one of the biggest clubs in the world. I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Alonso said.
Alonso has signed a four-year contract with the Blues and is set to take charge of his first competitive match when Chelsea begin their 2026/27 Premier League campaign away to Fulham next month. The club said his immediate priority is to build a strong team culture and lay the foundations for sustained success.
