{"id":8179,"date":"2026-05-14T06:43:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T06:43:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=8179"},"modified":"2026-05-14T06:43:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T06:43:51","slug":"jimmy-hasselbaink-says-chelsea-must-give-xabi-alonso-the-keys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=8179","title":{"rendered":"Jimmy Hasselbaink says Chelsea must give Xabi Alonso the keys"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has been speaking out on the Xabi Alonso to Chelsea rumours.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

It very much sounds like Jimmy is backing any Chelsea move for Alonso, but he believes that if they do hire him, they will need to hand him the keys and give him control at the club, just like Pep Guardiola has had at Manchester City.<\/p>\n

EXCLUSIVE! Xabi Alonso not making any major demands but emphasising importance of defence, talks progressing well \u2013 Chelsea throwing everything at it!<\/h3>\n

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Of course, we know that under this ownership, that is not how Chelsea operate at all and in fact, it\u2019s the opposite of how they operate. And this has led to a lot of criticism from outside and also from Chelsea fans. It has also led to manager after manager being sacked. So really, Jimmy has a point, maybe it is now time to change tact and try something else. Because this way has clearly not been working, right?<\/p>\n

Hasselbaink speaks on Alonso<\/h2>\n
\"Jimmy<\/source><\/picture>
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink doing punditry for Amazon. (Photo by Michael Steele\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In comments picked up on X, Hasselbaink said:<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think (Xabi Alonso) did that badly at Real Madrid. The problem is he wants to manage how he wants to manage and he feels that the players have to follow him. Stars are a little bit different, you need the support of the club.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Chelsea chooses him, you have to give him the keys. I\u2019ve always said that whoever you choose, you have to give them the keys and the players need to know that he is the decision-maker.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s the only way it will work. Players need to know that the manager is in charge for football decisions and the moment they know that, they will run harder, they will do their best.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo if you\u2019re going to choose Alonso, give him the keys and trust the process. Trust the process and let him lead.\u201d<\/p>\n

In other news today<\/h2>\n

Como\u2019s Jacobo Ramon is being linked with a number of top clubs, and Chelsea offer him a chance to start pretty quickly, putting them ahead of other possible options.<\/p>\n

Mathis Eboue is a name we\u2019re going to hear more and more about as he gets closer to the first team at Chelsea. And there is some Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo chatter.<\/p>\n

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