Steven Gerrard believes Chelsea can enjoy a strong season under Xabi Alonso, backing the Blues boss to lead the club to Premier League glory.
The former Liverpool captain, whose infamous slip remains a favourite among Chelsea fans, believes Alonso has the qualities to win the title in the near future.
Speaking on The Overlap Daily, Gerrard was asked whether Alonso could take Chelsea all the way to Premier League glory this season. Chelsea were considered favourites to challenge Arsenal for their defence, however the amount of goals conceeded causes a worry.
"I would say they just fall a little bit short, but it's a good time for Chelsea, for their fans, looking forward. There's tons of good players in there. If they can keep recruiting well and improving personnel, I think with Xabi and his team, it won't be too far down the line when they challenge."
Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso shared the pitch 165 times for Liverpool, winning the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup together.
Gerrard had hoped to see his former teammate take over from Jürgen Klopp, having been impressed by Alonso’s Bundesliga title win with Bayer Leverkusen. The Spaniard was his preferred choice to succeed Klopp at Anfield, ahead of Arne Slot and later Andoni Iraola.
Alonso's success at Leverkusen convinced Gerrard that he has the tactical intelligence and leadership required to compete at the highest level. Chelsea will hope he can bring that same winning mentality to Stamford Bridge, where the expectation is to challenge for major honours rather than settle for a place in the top four.
The hope among Chelsea supporters is that Alonso will one day deliver a Premier League title to Stamford Bridge, cementing his place in the club's history.
However, turning that potential into a genuine title challenge will take time, particularly given the strength of the Premier League and the competition from Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Gerrard's backing highlights the respect Alonso commands in the game, but Chelsea fans will ultimately want to see results on the pitch to prove their manager can deliver on that promise.
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