Xabi Alonso has made it clear that Chelsea required an "upgrade" rather than a full‑scale reset when he stepped into the managerial role this summer. The 44‑year‑old Spaniard signed a four‑year contract in May, inheriting a Blues side that had slipped to a 10th‑place finish in the Premier League after a chaotic season that saw the departures of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
That campaign also meant the club missed out on European competition for the third time in four years, a disappointment that added urgency to the changes Alonso wanted to implement. In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Alonso emphasized that the club’s situation called for a strategic "update" rather than a wholesale rebuild.
"Not a reset – it was an update, I would say. To change or to take decisions in another direction," he explained. The focus, he said, was on assessing the existing squad, understanding where each player was in his career, and deciding how best to harness their abilities within a new tactical framework. Alonso outlined his approach as a methodical process of analysis and decision‑making.
"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," he said.
Having set the strategic direction, Alonso stressed that the next phase was about execution on the pitch. "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 added. Since taking charge, Alonso has overseen six matches across all competitions, achieving two league wins, one draw and one defeat, alongside a perfect record of two wins in the Carabao Cup. The upcoming fixture sees Chelsea travel to the Gtech Community Stadium for a West London derby against Brentford on Friday night, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. When asked about his expectations, Alonso cautioned against chasing perfection.
"If I look for perfection, I will be frustrated always," he said. Instead, he aims for 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." Alonso acknowledged that building such a team is a process that unfolds at varying speeds.
"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," he explained.
He also emphasized his focus on internal development rather than external comparisons. "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 said. The Premier League's relentless competition, Alonso noted, demands rapid learning and adaptation.
"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," he asserted. When pressed about when supporters could expect tangible results, Alonso was measured. "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 replied. A key storyline ahead of the Brentford clash is the fitness of João Pedro, who has been sidelined from the Brazil squad due to injury.
Despite his withdrawal, Alonso hinted that the striker could still be available for Friday night. "In terms of injuries and in terms of the squad, we are having the last training session [on Friday]," he said. "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." When asked directly about Pedro's injury, Alonso gave a terse response: "No." He later added that playing for Brentford and then missing Brazil was a possibility, but stressed that Pedro had already moved beyond the disappointment of missing the World Cup. "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 one of measured optimism. He believes the squad possesses the core qualities needed for success, but acknowledges that transformation takes time, patience, and consistent effort. As the Blues head into the Brentford derby, the emphasis will be on applying the tactical updates he has introduced, reinforcing the team's identity, and gradually building the resilience required to compete at the highest level in English football.