The former Chelsea winner wants a change in philosophy at BlueCo and relies on Xabi Alonso
Former Chelsea midfielder Pat Nevin believes Xabi Alonso’s arrival at Stamford Bridge will change the philosophy of the club’s owners.
The West Londoners ended a disappointing season with a 2-1 defeat at Sunderland on Sunday which saw them finish 10th in the Premier League and miss out on European football.
Alonso will be looking to rebuild and Nevin is confident that BlueCo will have learned from their past mistakes and allowed the Spaniard to sign ‘ready’ players and move away from their previous model of signing youngsters and hopefully improve.
Speaking to 101 Great Goals via BetSelect.co.uk, Nevin said: “Yes they do. [need to change philosophy] and this time I think they will. They have a great manager in Alonso, who doesn’t need a job, he could wait and maybe get Liverpool. There is no way in the world they can find 19-year-old boys who will be stars in three years, especially after what he went through at Real Madrid.
“He’ll be saying ‘I got people I can trust from day one’.”
Alonso will succeed at Chelsea, if supported – Nevin
Former Scotland international Nevin, who made almost 200 appearances for Chelsea in the 1980s and has since built a successful career in the media, hopes Alonso’s arrival will change the level of responsibility given to the club manager.
“The management culture is not really working,” he added. “Ku [ask someone] to come in and not do any management, just a coach, which you don’t feel disrespected. People who haven’t played at the top level are always telling you what to do even though you should be the manager and the one hitting the headlines.
“Now they’ve brought Alonso in and they’re saying he’s going to have more control, all these things we’ve been saying for the last four years.”
Asked if he thought Alonso would be a success at Stamford Bridge, Nevin was optimistic, provided the promised change materialised.
“All the information so far says that it will probably go the same way and he will be out of his ear in about a year,” he added. “That’s what the experience tells you, but maybe the lessons have been learned.
“He is a high-level coach and will be respected by the players. It will definitely work for him if he is given enough support and space. I am happy to see him there.”
Management change at Chelsea looks ‘horribly messed up’
Alonso will replace Liam Rosenior as the new full-time manager after Calum McFarlane’s interim. Enzo Maresca, who led the team to the world title last summer, was sacked on New Years and Rosenior was sacked in April.
The management’s uncertainty contributed to the decline of the season, but a group of players who did not succeed must be criticized. They were packed at the Stadium of Light at the weekend and Nevin said it was a fitting way for the campaign to end.
He said: “There were times [of the season] that was fun and really good, but when they changed managers and Rosenior came in, it was clear that the players were not with him and it got worse. It looked terribly dirty.
“See [BlueCo] they showed patience, they came in and said they would do it another way. And just because I wouldn’t do it that way doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
“But after three or four years you say, ‘Okay, now go ahead.’
“That’s sad, the things that most of us were saying when we were in the game but we can’t be listened to and we’ll go home and take care of ourselves.”
