Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has sat down with former Liverpool teammate Jamie Carragher to discuss all things Chelsea.
The interview was part of Sky Sports’ Boss YouTube series, which explores the world of football management, offering insights into the club, its leadership and the owners behind the scenes.
We bring you the main quotes from the show released on Friday.
On choosing Chelsea
Xabi Alonso has explained that his decision to take charge of Chelsea came down to timing, the potential of the squad and the feeling that he could build something meaningful at Stamford Bridge.
Having enjoyed a spell away from football following his short period with Real Madrid, the Spaniard was ready to return to management at the beginning of the season.
"I had no link to Chelsea, but with the potential that was here, a few things could change and I thought we could start the journey together."
Interestingly, Alonso revealed that he had no previous connection with Chelsea before the opportunity arose. However, the club's potential convinced him that there was a project worth investing in, with a strong squad providing the foundations for further improvement.
On the players
Before taking the job, the Spaniard assessed the quality of Chelsea’s squad and identified it as one of the key reasons for choosing Stamford Bridge as his next destination.
Although he did not name any specific players, the likes of Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo would have undoubtedly caught his attention. With such quality at his disposal, Alonso will have believed Chelsea had the foundations to compete for European qualification and hunger to return to glory.
"I had a feeling that the very strong base of the squad was very good and with some updates, some improvements, some new signings, we could have a solid team. And that it was going to be a project."
On Chelsea ownership
The relationship between the manager and the owners is crucial to success at Chelsea, and Alonso revealed how his initial outside perception of the club quickly changed once he was welcomed in and given a clearer understanding of their vision.
" There is the ownership, the sporting director and me, but we are always connected and we have good communication."
On winning the Premier League
Chelsea fans will naturally demand success, such is the club’s ambition and the expectations that come with wearing the badge. However, patience may be required, with Alonso making it clear that his vision is a medium-to-long-term project rather than one built around achieving instant success.
"In the medium to long-term, yes. We know that takes time and many right decisions. We won't make all the right decisions but, for me, being involved in the key decisions is as important as the rest."
"This is the ambition of the club. This club has won Champions Leagues and Premier Leagues not so long ago and we want to be back there, but we are not stupid to think this has to come right now. Time will tell when that can come."
Hopefully, it is this season or next that the trophy cabinet at Stamford Bridge will be available to expand while Xabi is our man.
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