Former Gunner takes credit for Xabi Alonso’s greatest managerial success
Story updated
The story in brief
13-second readChelsea's start to the season has been underwhelming, with four wins, one draw, and three losses in their first eight Premier League games, according to the Daily Cannon. The team has slipped eight points off the pace, and even slow-starting Liverpool appears more likely to challenge for the title.
The full picture
Chelsea's start to the season has been underwhelming, with four wins, one draw, and three losses in their first eight Premier League games, according to the Daily Cannon. The team has slipped eight points off the pace, and even slow-starting Liverpool appears more likely to challenge for the title. Chelsea recently suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, who had scored six goals in their other seven league games.
Former Arsenal player Granit Xhaka has resurfaced an interview from September, claiming his tactical suggestion was a key factor in Xabi Alonso's success with Bayer Leverkusen. Xhaka recalled a friendly game against Real Sociedad where he advised Alonso to change from a back four, which Alonso did. Xhaka believes this shows Alonso's willingness to adapt and credits this decision as a factor in Leverkusen's subsequent success, including winning the league unbeaten.
Alonso had attempted to reunite with Xhaka over the summer, but Sunderland refused to sell, reportedly viewing Chelsea's initial bid as insulting. Without Xhaka's advice, Alonso must now find his own strategy to turn Chelsea's season around, as the team faces questions about his tactics from within their own fanbase.
At a glance
- Reporting status
- Reported
- Original publisher
- Daily Cannon ↗
- Source published
- Clubs covered
- Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen
Attributed publisher reporting. Kickjolly has not independently confirmed the claim.
Source context
Given the cost to assemble Chelsea’s current squad and the reputation Xabi Alonso had when joining, the team’s start to the new season has been somewhat underwhelming. With no European football to distract them, Chelsea have won four, drawn one, and lost three of their opening eight Premier League fixtures. Most recently, they suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to a Tottenham Hotspur team who had scored six goals in their other seven league games. Alonso’s team have already slipped eight points off the pace, and even slow starters Liverpool look more likely to make a title challenge. Amid questions around Alonso’s tactics in Chelsea’s own fanbase, an interview from September has resurfaced in which former Gunner Granit Xhaka suggests the manager’s most famous team was inspired by him.
Source excerpt · Daily Cannon
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