Xabi Alonso has clarified that the changes he intends to bring to Chelsea this season amount to an "update" rather than a full‑scale reset of the club. The former midfielder, now 44, signed a four‑year deal in May and stepped into the role after a chaotic campaign that saw the Blues finish 10th in the Premier League and part ways with both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior. That disappointing league position also meant Chelsea missed out on European competition for the third time in four years.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Alonso explained his philosophy: "Not a reset – it was an update, I would say. To change or to take decisions in another direction." He emphasized that his primary focus was the existing squad, assessing each player’s career stage, identifying where they could improve and deciding what adjustments were necessary. "My main concern is the squad, the team, the players that we have, in which stage of their career they are, in which moments we want to bring them, what we have, what we can improve. Those were, for me, the important decisions, the important things to analyse before coming here.
Once we agreed we wanted to take one direction, it was about taking decisions. Some of them we took, others will have to be taken, but we are convinced with all of them." Alonso stressed that the club now moves from a planning phase to a competitive one.
"Now it's competition time. It's not about improving, now it's with the team that we have to work hard, improve, knowing that we have to learn from mistakes, from the good things as well, and we are in that moment," he said. To date he has overseen six matches across all competitions – two league wins, one draw and one defeat in the Premier League, plus two victories in the Carabao Cup.
The next test comes on Friday night when Chelsea travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford in a West London derby, a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. When asked about his expectations, Alonso warned against chasing perfection.
"If I look for perfection, I will be frustrated always," he remarked. Instead, he seeks consistency, solidity and confidence. "What I'm looking for is to reach a good level, good continuity, good solidity; to be a team that knows what they're going to do and have this confidence and this conviction whenever you are facing any opposition.
We are in the process. We will get there when some processes are quicker or longer, but we are working to have that feeling and when you see that we are going on the pitch we have that belief that we know what we are going to do." Alonso also highlighted that his early focus is on his own squad rather than on opponents.
"The early days are just for games and I'm not that focused about the other teams. I'm very focused about my own team and all my players and the development that we will do, the process and the improvement that we have to make." He acknowledged the intense pressure of the Premier League, noting that rapid learning is essential. "We need to learn quick because the competition is furious in the Premier League and I'm sure that the Chelsea of the first day and the Chelsea of the last day in the Premier League will be different and I'm sure that it will be better. It will be getting better and better with weeks and with games." When questioned about external criticism of his methods, Alonso declined to comment directly, preferring to let results speak for themselves.
"It's not for me to answer. I prefer not to ask things from people. I prefer to do things.
And knowing that, I am aware everything takes time in football, but time will tell," he said. A specific player issue that has attracted attention is João Pedro’s fitness. The Brazilian forward withdrew from the Brazil national team due to injury, raising doubts about his availability for the upcoming Brentford fixture. Alonso confirmed that the squad would have a final training session on Friday and that no one was ruled out.
"No one is ruled out. I remain cautious and we wait.
We will see [on Friday] if he's ready to play. We will take a decision," he explained. When pressed for details about Pedro’s injury, Alonso simply replied, "No." He added that playing for Chelsea on Friday while missing the Brazil match is a realistic scenario: "It is a possibility." Regarding Pedro’s disappointment at missing Brazil, Alonso pointed out that the player has already moved past the summer and the World Cup disappointment, focusing instead on delivering a strong season for Chelsea.
"He has moved on from the summer, he has moved on from the World Cup. He has shown this desire, determination to have a great season so far. The summer is far away now.
He will be [in the Brazil squad] in the future. I'm pretty sure he is going to be," Alonso affirmed. Overall, Alonso’s message is clear: Chelsea do not need a wholesale overhaul; they need a thoughtful, incremental update that respects the existing talent while nudging the squad toward greater cohesion, resilience and ambition. The upcoming derby against Brentford will be an early litmus test of how quickly his ideas translate into on‑field performance, and fans will be watching closely to see whether the Blues can turn their recent under‑achievement into a platform for sustained progress.