Xabi Alonso has made it clear that the changes he is implementing at Chelsea are more about an upgrade than a total reset. When he signed a four‑year contract in May, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder inherited a side that had finished a disappointing 10th place in the Premier League, after a chaotic season that saw the departures of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
That season also marked the third occasion in four years that Chelsea missed out on European competition, a fact that underscored the urgency of a strategic shift. 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 stressed that his primary focus was the existing squad – assessing each player’s career stage, determining how they could be utilised most effectively, and identifying areas where the team could improve. "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," he said.
Those considerations formed the backbone of his early decisions, some of which have already been implemented while others remain on the agenda. Alonso emphasized that the club is now in a competitive phase, not a rebuilding 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 added. Since taking charge, he has overseen six matches across all competitions, achieving two league wins, one draw and one defeat, plus a perfect record of two victories in the Carabao Cup. The next challenge for the Blues is a short trip to the Gtech Community Stadium for a West London derby against Brentford on Friday night, a game 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 remarked. Instead, his aim is to build a team that displays consistency, solidity and confidence against any opponent.
"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," he explained. Alonso acknowledged that progress can be uneven.
"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 said. He stressed that his focus remains on his own players and their development, rather than on rival teams. "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 asserted. The Premier League’s relentless competition demands rapid learning, and Alonso is confident that the Chelsea side will evolve noticeably over the season.
"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 said. When pressed about when supporters could expect tangible results, Alonso deflected, preferring action over speculation.
"It's not for me to answer. I prefer not to ask things from people.
I prefer to do things," he replied, noting that time is an essential factor in football and that outcomes will become clear as the season unfolds. A particular point of interest ahead of the Brentford match is the potential involvement of João Pedro, who recently withdrew from the Brazil squad due to injury.
Despite the setback, Alonso hinted that Pedro could still feature on 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 "No." He later noted that while Pedro might miss the Brazil call‑up, his focus remains on contributing to Chelsea’s season.
"It is a possibility," Alonso said when questioned about Pedro playing for Chelsea but not for Brazil. He added that Pedro has moved past the disappointment of missing the World Cup and is determined to have a strong season, suggesting that his future with the Brazilian national team remains promising. Overall, Alonso’s message to the Chelsea faithful is one of patience and optimism.
He recognises the challenges ahead but believes that the incremental upgrades he is making will, over time, transform the club into a side capable of competing at the highest level. The upcoming derby against Brentford will be an early test of his ideas, and while the result is uncertain, the broader narrative is clear: Chelsea are not starting from scratch, they are simply being updated, and that update aims to restore the club’s traditional standards of excellence.