{"id":10020,"date":"2026-05-18T09:40:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T09:40:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=10020"},"modified":"2026-05-18T09:40:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T09:40:25","slug":"when-xabi-alonso-will-take-charge-of-his-first-game-as-chelsea-manager","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=10020","title":{"rendered":"When Xabi Alonso will take charge of his first game as Chelsea manager"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Chelsea have announced that Xabi Alonso has signed a deal to become their new permanent manager, although Blues fans will have to wait a couple of months before seeing his tactics in action.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alonso\u2019s hiring was confirmed by Chelsea less than 24 hours after they had been defeated in the FA Cup final by Manchester City.<\/p>\n

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Calum McFarlane took interim charge of that game, and will remain in the hotseat until the end of the Premier League season.<\/p>\n

When is Xabi Alonso\u2019s first game in charge of Chelsea?<\/h2>\n

Chelsea are hoping to get Alonso in attendance for the league fixture against Tottenham, giving the Spaniard an up-close look at the side he will inherit.<\/p>\n

The 2026\/27 Premier League season gets underway on August 22, but Chelsea fans will not have to wait that long before watching their side be coached by the former Real Madrid boss.<\/p>\n

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\"Xabi<\/div>
Photo by Richard Sellers\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Instead, the Blues\u2019 pre-season campaign kicks off in Australia, and a friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers on July 28.<\/p>\n

Following this, Chelsea are back in action in Sydney against Spurs, a game which will surely keep its intensity despite the fact there is nothing on the line.<\/p>\n

Four days later, the tour moves to Hong Kong and a clash against Juventus, before ending their pre-season campaign on August 8 against A Milan.<\/p>\n

Chelsea faced the Italian giants in their very limited pre-season campaign before the 2025\/26 season, with Enzo Maresca\u2019s side running out 4-1 winners.<\/p>\n

Liam Delap scored twice in that game, which is more than his current amount of Premier League goals since moving to Chelsea.<\/p>\n

Pre-season campaigns have never been the best indication of how a domestic season will play out. The Blues were undefeated in Mauricio Pochettino\u2019s tour of the United States.<\/p>\n

However, Chelsea fans will take more interest than normal in how their side get on, including what system they line up in ahead of the new season.<\/p>\n

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