Chelsea confirmed Xabi Alonso’s appointment last Sunday, with the Spaniard signing a four-year deal to take charge from next season.
Liam Rosenior was sacked last month, and Chelsea’s form has continued to raise concerns. The Blues have won only two of their last 12 matches.
They will not play in next season’s Champions League, which makes Alonso’s arrival a major BlueCo achievement. European qualification, however, remains possible.
Marco Silva, Andoni Iraola and Filipe Luis had all been linked with the job. However, Micah Richards believes Chelsea have chosen the right profile.
Micah Richards says Xabi Alonso is the ‘perfect fit’
While speaking on Sky Sports, the former full-back pointed to three key factors to justify his statement.
Richards said: “A manager who’s won trophies, he’s managed at a big club, he’s experienced. I think it’s a perfect fit if he has control on recruitment.”
The recruitment point is also important. Chelsea have a young squad, and Alonso’s success may depend on whether he can shape the group properly.
There are still concerns around his appointment. The Spaniard impressed at Bayer Leverkusen, but his Real Madrid spell ended disappointingly after reported tension with senior players, including Vinicius Jr.
Madrid’s struggles after his departure suggest Alonso was not the only problem. Even so, Chelsea will be his second chance to prove himself at the highest level.
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