Chelsea make decision on Xabi Alonso’s future after Sunderland defeat

Chelsea make decision on Xabi Alonso’s future after Sunderland defeat Chelsea Back Xabi Alonso as January Transfer Plans Take Shape Chelsea have made an early call on Xabi Alonso and, for now, it is a sensible one. According to Football London, the club are unlikely to sack their manager even if Champions League qualification slips away this season. That matters, because the noise has already started after a mixed opening to the campaign. Alonso arrived with more authority than most recent Chelsea coaches. He was given real influence in recruitment and tasked with cleaning up a long list of poor decisions made under BlueCo. Results at the start looked encouraging, with wins over Fulham and Brighton, but the bounce did not last. Chelsea now sit fifth after 10 league games, 11 points behind Arsenal, and the table already tells a clear story. This team is not where it wants to be, and probably not where the ownership expected it to be either. Still, there is no sign of panic. The report says sacking Alonso is “very unlikely,” and internally this is viewed as “the very start of the Alonso era.” That is the key line. Chelsea have churned through managers often enough to know what instability looks like. If they appointed Alonso to reshape the team, then judging him after a handful of fixtures would be short-term nonsense. Photo IMAGO Xabi Alonso Retains Chelsea Backing There is context here too. Chelsea considered other options before making the appointment. Cesc Fabregas stayed at Como, while Andoni Iraola moved to Liverpool after Arne Slot’s exit. Alonso was the choice, and once you make that choice, you either commit or admit you had no plan in the first place. For now, Chelsea are committing. That does not mean standards disappear. Two defeats in the last three league matches have increased scrutiny, and the gap to the top is already uncomfortable. More importantly, Chelsea are closer to the bottom than first place, which is the sort of stat that quickly turns concern into agitation. January Transfer Plans Point to Midfield Priority The club’s next move looks likely to come in the transfer market. Chelsea wanted a central midfielder in the summer and did not get one done before the deadline. That issue has not gone away. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is reportedly the leading target, with Chelsea seeing him as the preferred replacement for Enzo Fernandez. Martin Zubimendi is another name under discussion. The Arsenal midfielder has seen his standing change under Mikel Arteta, and Chelsea are among the clubs monitoring the situation, along with Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. Whether that turns into a genuine January move is another matter, but the interest fits the profile of what Chelsea need, control, composure and technical security in midfield. Malo Gusto Exit Could Become January Story Outgoing business may also become part of the winter picture. Malo Gusto is reported to be the most likely departure, with the defender unhappy about his role under Alonso. That is not ideal, but it is also common at clubs carrying bloated squads and uneven planning. Chelsea still have too many moving parts. For now, the position is straightforward. Chelsea are backing Xabi Alonso, and January will offer him the chance to reshape weak points in the squad. The pressure has started, but the sack talk appears premature. Our View This all sounds calm on the surface, but it does not feel calm. The line about Chelsea standing by Alonso is welcome, because the last thing needed is another wild swing after 10 matches. That cycle has done enough damage already. Appoint a manager, hand him influence, then let him work. That part is obvious. What is harder to ignore is the league table. Fifth after 10 games is not a disaster in isolation, but the points gap and the inconsistency are what make it worrying. There are familiar signs here, a squad that still feels unfinished, important areas in midfield not properly fixed, and players already looking uncertain about their role. That is how seasons drift. Alex Scott is a talented player, but there is always a danger of asking one signing to solve a structural issue. If Chelsea missed on a midfielder in the summer, that failure matters now. Waiting until January usually means paying more, getting less choice and hoping the solution settles instantly. The biggest concern is that everyone keeps talking about eras while the team still looks like a project in pieces. Backing Alonso is right. Backing him properly is the real test. If January is another messy window, then the manager will carry blame for problems that were there before he walked in. Source: Football London