{"id":15504,"date":"2026-07-08T18:55:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T18:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=15504"},"modified":"2026-07-08T18:55:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T18:55:50","slug":"xabi-alonsos-first-game-as-chelsea-manager-may-be-about-to-become-even-tougher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=15504","title":{"rendered":"Xabi Alonso’s first game as Chelsea manager may be about to become even tougher"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"\/ Add as preferred source on Google<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

As Chelsea fans wait patiently for Xabi Alonso to be spotted at work as a Chelsea manager, news elsewhere in the Premier League could make life difficult for him in his first game in charge.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Those Blues not at the World Cup are already putting in the work to be prepared for next season and avoid another embarrassing mid-table finish.<\/p>\n

\n

Cole Palmer has looked sharp, and will join up with Alonso and the majority of the squad in the coming days.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n

Chelsea fans, share your expectations for Xabi Alonso! \ud83c\udfc6<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"Xabi<\/div>
Credit: Alexander Hassenstein\/Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Xabi Alonso\u2019s first game as Chelsea manager could be about to get much tougher<\/h2>\n

Chelsea are aware that their season starts with a huge game in the form of a West London derby against Fulham, which already has the added spice of who is in charge of both sides.<\/p>\n

Alonso will come up against Alvaro Arbeloa, who replaced him after he was sacked by Real Madrid last season, and will want to avoid any early embarrassment which comes from that narrative.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Real<\/div>
Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Arbeloa\u2019s new side have been strongly linked with bringing some promising players in from Madrid, including Franco Mastantuono, Fran Garcia and forward Gonzalo Garcia.<\/p>\n

The trio have shown immense promise already in the early stages of their career, and would bring a significant boost to a Fulham side who need an injection of talent.<\/p>\n

Chelsea were defeated at Craven Cottage last season, and Alonso\u2019s task of putting that wrong right will become far harder taking on some of these current Madrid stars.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Enzo Fernandez needs to leave Chelsea for the good of the club \ud83d\udc4b\ud83c\udffb<\/h3>\n

Thoughts?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
\"Enzo<\/div>
Photo by Dennis Agyeman \/ European Press Sports via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Alonso convinced Mastantuono to join Real Madrid<\/h2>\n

One of the highlights of Alonso\u2019s brief time at Madrid were the performances of Mastantuono, after being signed from River Plate.<\/p>\n

The Argentine admitted to DAZN that it was purely because of Alonso that he decided to join Madrid, with plenty of top clubs interested in signing him.<\/p>\n

Chelsea were one of those linked to Mastantuono, and would have had confidence after beating them to the signing of Estevao Willian previously.<\/p>\n

There would be a sense of irony if he was the man brought in on loan by Fulham who delivered the first real blow to Alonso at Chelsea.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/svg><\/p>\n
Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n

Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n