{"id":11570,"date":"2026-05-21T22:13:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T22:13:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=11570"},"modified":"2026-05-21T22:13:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T22:13:54","slug":"andrey-santos-praises-legend-in-football-xabi-alonso","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=11570","title":{"rendered":"Andrey Santos praises “legend in football” Xabi Alonso"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Andrey Santos has described new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso as a top manager and admitted he\u2019s got to work hard.<\/p>\n

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The Blues officially\u00a0 announced Alonso as their new manager on Sunday, with the Spaniard agreeing a four year deal at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n

Getting Alonso was seen as a real coup, with Chelsea\u2019s players said to be excited at the prospect of working under the former Real Madrid boss.<\/p>\n

Andrey Santos gives his thoughts on Xabi Alonso<\/h2>\n

Alonso will certainly command the respect of the dressing room from day one, given what he\u2019s achieved as both a player and manager.<\/p>\n

Chelsea went out and appointed the best manager they could get, but there\u2019s no doubt a lot of work needs to be done.<\/p>\n

Alonso will need to be backed in the summer, but with no Champions League football, it could be harder for the Blues to land some of their top targets.<\/p>\n

Trevoh Chalobah has already spoken of his excitement to work under Alonso, and now Santos has shared his thoughts on the 44-year-old.<\/p>\n

\u201cXabi (Alonso) is a top manager and is a legend in football,\u201d he told Chelsea\u2019s website.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe played in my position too, so I have to work hard. We will work hard to finish the season, and then in the summer, we will see what happens.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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In other news\u2026<\/h2>\n

Jamie Carragher believes Xabi Alonso is a fantastic appointment for Chelsea, and could help keep some of their top players without Champions League football.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Chelsea officially announced the appointment of Alonso on a four year contract on Sunday, and he will begin work on July 1st.<\/p>\n

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips\u2019 SPTC podcast here:<\/em><\/p>\n