- 5 hours ago
Xabi Alonso unveiled as Chelsea manager
13/07/2026
Stamford Bridge, London, UK
13/07/2026
Stamford Bridge, London, UK
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SportsTranscript
00:14Good afternoon and thank you for joining us as we introduce the new manager of Chelsea
00:23Football Club, Xavi Alonso. We will take questions from the floor. We have microphones at either
00:29side if you could wait for the microphone to come to you. We have members of the international
00:33media here today. If we could have all questions in English please. And we will begin with James
00:40Vundra and Sky Sports just in the front please. Xavi, many congratulations on your appointment.
00:48What excites you about taking charge of Chelsea? Well, first of all, good afternoon everyone.
00:55Thank you for congratulations. And the excitement is the club, the squad, the chance, the opportunity
01:04and the honour to come to join this great club and to create the excitement, this bond with
01:13the supporters and to win games and to be successful.
01:19How ready do you feel to manage this club the size of Chelsea given the previous experiences
01:24you've had as a manager and as a player?
01:26I want to enjoy it. I want to be part of this club, work together with the sports directors,
01:36with the players, with the staff around. I see that it's a club with great potential. We need for sure
01:44to make important decisions, right decisions. But I think that there is a very strong base already built
01:51and now we need to follow up to keep building and building this mentality to be competitive
01:58on the pitch, to win games and to enjoy it.
02:02You've got a long contract, but what do you want to achieve in your first season in charge?
02:07Do Chelsea need to be playing European football next season?
02:11Well, for sure. That's a goal. But to reach that goal, you need to do many right things and to
02:17be part of that process,
02:19how we want to play, how we want to see ourselves, how we want to approach the game wherever we
02:27go.
02:27That's my job. That's what I'm really looking forward to, to have the whole squad. At the moment, we have
02:34some pits,
02:34but early days and happy early days so far. But for sure, we want to be there and time will
02:42tell,
02:42but we are ambitious and to be in Chelsea, you need to share that energy, that ambition and as well
02:53that hunger
02:55to want to have success.
02:58Thanks, James. Paul Belverstone, Premier League studios.
03:02Xavi, you've had some players back already after a summer off, unusually for Chelsea. How much hunger did you see
03:08in those players' eyes already?
03:11Yes, I'm sure and I have felt already that they want to have a good season. After last year, we
03:22are starting from zero,
03:25in some new phases from the staff, from the manager, but they are really keen on whatever we are doing.
03:33We can't really tell that much. It's just four days with some players, but you see that energy is good.
03:39The excitement is there and we need to prepare well. We have time for that.
03:45As I said before, it's very important that we build the right mentality to compete. We build the right basics,
03:55essentials on a daily basis to be ready for the weekends.
04:00The players who are here at the moment, the players who might come in in the future, what are the
04:04most important characteristics that they need to thrive under you?
04:10We need to have hunger. We need to have the passion for the game. We want to, we need to
04:17want to improve.
04:18We are coming in, the Premier League is such a competitive competition and for that we need to prepare ourselves.
04:27We need to be really, really determined in details, really strong on our basics, how we want to play.
04:36We will have time for that, but those are the most important pillars in our game.
04:42Thanks, Paul. Nizar in the front here, please.
04:47It's Nizar from BBC. Welcome.
04:50I wanted to ask you, Chelsea, when you were appointed to a Fighting Sunderland in the last game and they
04:55lost and didn't qualify for Europe,
04:57how much has that changed things in terms of the squad, maybe having to reduce the numbers?
05:03Small details for sure, but the main focus about what we want to, how we want to start the competition
05:10in August, it doesn't change much.
05:13The plan is that we are working aligned with the sports directors, where we want to reach, the team is
05:20good and where we want to reinforce the positions that are needed is clear.
05:25Still some weeks to go, but we are working in a very aligned way, and this is the right way.
05:32And there's one player you haven't met, but I was wondering if you'd spoken to him, Enzo Fernandes, there's a
05:37lot of talk about him and his future.
05:38I wondered if you'd spoken to him and spoke about your vision and if you want to keep him as
05:43well.
05:44Yes, we have spoken, but as you can understand, what we have spoken remains private, but yes, we have spoken.
05:52Do you want to keep him though at Chelsea?
05:53Yes.
05:55Thanks Nizar.
05:56Ian, down here please.
06:01Hi Jeremy, how are you?
06:03Good, thank you, and you?
06:04Welcome to Chelsea, not a head coach, but the manager.
06:08Can you explain to me, does that mean you're going to be in charge of everything?
06:11Does that mean you're going to have exactly the same role at the club you've had at your previous club?
06:16Just outline for us the difference for you, manager, compared to the coach.
06:20For me, it means that we are working together to take the decisions, the right decisions in
06:26the squad planning, on a daily basis, on the trainees, I am on that, but how we want to
06:34prepare the squad for which players and which positions are needed is the work that we are
06:40doing together with the sports directors, and we are aligned.
06:45We have set our priorities, what we want to do, and this is the work that we are doing.
06:51I'm afraid you were linked with a move to the Premier League, most notably your former
06:55club, Liverpool.
06:57Two-part question.
06:58First of all, were you always wanting to come back and manage in the Premier League?
07:01And secondly, coming to Chelsea, some big shoes to follow in the likes of Mourinho, Conte,
07:07Houdink, et cetera?
07:10Yeah, of course, the Premier League is the most competitive league in the world right now.
07:15It is a challenge to come here, it is a challenge to, in my managerial career, but
07:22really excited about accepting it, improving and learning to get there, and the history
07:32of Chelsea is there, not just because of their success, because of so many great players that
07:38they have played, so many great managers that they have been here.
07:41Some of them, I see some pictures, and I know some of these guys, so I feel really honoured,
07:50privileged, and ready for the work.
07:52Good luck.
07:52Thanks, Ian.
07:53Liam, in the second row, please.
07:56Hi, Chabby.
07:56Liam from The Athletic.
07:57Welcome.
07:58I wanted to ask about Cole Palmer, one of the players you've had a chance to work with.
08:03What were your first impressions of him, and how important will he be to the team that
08:07you build here?
08:08Yeah, we have had a few trainings already.
08:15And from the first day, you can see he's a special talent.
08:19He's a special player.
08:20He's not easy to have one of those, and you can notice his quality, how he's able to play
08:32the right decision in the right spot.
08:35So I'm happy that he has come in a good mood, in a good mindset to have a great season.
08:45And we are really looking forward to get the best from him.
08:48If we are able to build a strong team with the proper stability to find the key players,
08:56for sure Cole is going to be one of those key players in the attacking part.
09:03Okay, Davide, third row, please.
09:07Hello, Xabi.
09:07I'm Davide Quinellato with the Gazzetta dello Sport.
09:10You already signed one player in Palestra.
09:12What did you see in him, and how do you think you can help him adapt to the Premier League
09:17football?
09:18He has many great qualities to adapt to modern football.
09:22He's a player that gives you versatility in his positioning, playing a back four and
09:29a back five event.
09:30Sometimes he has played on the left, physically really strong.
09:33We need to keep working with him in his development in the adaptation to the Premier League.
09:39But I'm pretty sure, and I'm positive, that it will take a lot of time.
09:44And he has a very good mentality in terms of competitiveness, in terms of this hunger to improve.
09:53So I'm happy that he's with him.
09:55He's been already training.
09:57And we are really looking forward to getting the best from him.
10:01When you talk about the identity of the team you want to build here, is it going to be a
10:05back five, back four?
10:06Do you have that in mind already, or is it something that you want to add?
10:10Yes, for sure.
10:11I have things in mind.
10:12This is my job.
10:13And for sure, we want to be active.
10:16We want to be brave.
10:17We want to play good football.
10:19We want to compete well.
10:20But above that, we need a good mentality.
10:22I think that that's fundamental, to understand what to do what it takes in each moment.
10:29It will be a process for sure, but we want to show that we are ready whenever we go.
10:37Once we are getting closer to the start of the season, we will reassure that with all the players.
10:46But so far, this is going to be key.
10:49Thanks, Davide.
10:50Second row, please.
10:53On the World Cup, it's a really long one, and there are four players in the squad missing,
10:59eight from Arsenal.
11:00How much has the World Cup got in the way of your preparations?
11:05It was already in the plan.
11:07So it's not a big surprise that at this stage we still have some players.
11:13I'm happy for them because what they are living is an unforgettable experience.
11:22Hopefully, at the end, we will have a world champion when they come back to Cobain, and we will celebrate
11:33that.
11:33But we adapt, and we have to be flexible in that situation, and we will have to speed up the
11:41preparation with some players.
11:42But it's going to happen.
11:45As a player, your love for Liverpool is well known, but how much do you love London?
11:51I've always loved London.
11:53I've come many times, and now I will have the chance to live it in full experience, living here, myself,
11:59my wife, my daughters.
12:02So really looking forward.
12:05I'm not discovering anything to say it's one of the greatest cities in the world.
12:10In the back, please.
12:17Hello, thank you.
12:18My name is Diego Arispelleta.
12:19I work for Televisión Española.
12:21I would like to know, now that we are in the middle of the World Cup competition, you are a
12:26winner of the World Cup 2010.
12:28I'm sure this brings you memories of that time in your life.
12:33I want to know your opinion on how Spain are doing these days, and what you think is going to
12:38happen tomorrow against France.
12:40And it would be lovely if you can answer in Spanish too. Thank you.
12:45Well, I will briefly later answer in Spanish for the Spanish TV.
12:53Actually, seeing a lot of the Spanish games, it brings me a lot of memories from the World Cup that
13:03we won.
13:03Because of the team, because of the energy that they transmit, because of the control they have on the games.
13:09So, we have many reasons to be optimistic. For sure, whatever will happen with France, it's going to be a
13:19fantastic game to watch.
13:21So, really looking forward to it.
13:25Do you think they will be able to achieve the same goals you achieved in 2008, 2010 and 2012? Is
13:31that possible for them?
13:32They have a great team. And I can see them winning this World Cup, for sure.
13:37Now, so many English gentlemen around, they are hoping not to happen, but they play really good.
13:49And they have a very strong team.
13:52Down here, please, in the front.
13:59Afternoon, Xabi. Welcome back to London. Welcome to Chelsea.
14:03No Chelsea, no manager since Antonio Conte has won the Premier League in their first season.
14:09I believe Pep Guardiola needed one season, Klopp needed about five, Arteta's needed about six as well.
14:15Are you confident you will be given the time to build a team which can challenge for the Premier League
14:21if not win it?
14:22Time will tell, but what I'm sure is that we have the ambition to win a lot of games, to
14:27be competitive.
14:28We want, as I've said before, we need to take important decisions.
14:32We need to build strong principles and strong mentality and culture in the club.
14:39And time will tell. I'm not going to say what will happen in May.
14:42For me, it's absolutely too early to say that.
14:45But I'm confident and optimistic to think that we can have a great season.
14:49And for that, it's time to prepare, it's time to work, try to be intelligent in many things, and after
14:59to hope that we have this belief.
15:03And to have this belief within the team with our fans here in Stamford Ridge will be very important.
15:10And just finally, it's my understanding that Alejandro Garnaccio was not at your first training session.
15:16You might be able to correct that loss, he might have been elsewhere, etc.
15:20Why was he not there and what is his future like?
15:22Well, the situation, we have spoken with the sports directors and there is an interest from him, from other clubs,
15:28so let's see how it develops. But hopefully it finishes in the best possible ways for all the parts.
15:36And just finally, Nicholas Jackson's future as well. He was on loan at Bayern Munich last year.
15:40He looked quite impressive at times. He's now back here. What's his future looking like?
15:44Well, he's joining in the tour that we are starting in Asia, and we're looking forward to start with Nico
15:53at that time.
15:55Thank you very much.
15:56OK. If there's no more questions, we'll end it there. Thank you very much for joining, everyone.
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