Xabi Alonso on Chelsea's Goals and Potential, and His Unwavering Football Principles

Chelsea's new manager, Xabi Alonso, spoke to the club's official website in his inaugural interview since taking the helm of the London Blues this summer.

“It feels fantastic, and it's a tremendous honor to be part of this great club, which is one of the best in the world, with significant success over recent decades. It's a huge privilege to be here. Now, we eagerly anticipate the challenge ahead. We have challenges, good challenges, but that's the beauty of this moment.

The idea is to share the belief that good things will happen if we are united and create this force – the energy must come from us. Together, we can achieve great things in the coming years,” the Spaniard stated.

Xabi then elaborated on what convinced him to accept Chelsea's offer: “The way they played not so long ago, competing at the highest level, gave me confidence that the team's potential is there, thanks to the quality of the players and their style of play. So now, it will require work to continue many of the things they've done and to ensure we reach a very competitive level.

The opportunity to join this club was the right one. The potential of the team and the squad truly excited me. It's wonderful to find a squad to work with, to develop a footballing concept, to bring excitement to the stadium, and to establish a connection with the fans. I know the energy that Stamford Bridge possesses.

Regarding his non-negotiable footballing principles, Chelsea's new manager affirmed: “You must have a passion for what you do. In football, you have to be prepared to pay the price to compete at the highest level. You can't hold anything back. You give everything for the team – and the team is always the most important thing. You also need to have a good human connection with the players. They need to feel good – and when they do, they usually play well.

We need to cultivate this winning culture and mentality. It's a process, and that process happens every day here at Cobham (the club's training ground).”

“After my experiences in Germany and Spain, I was always keen to try the Premier League. This came at the right time, with the right club, and the right opportunity. It's the most competitive environment in the world. That excites me – the challenge and the chance to prove we can achieve great things. We want to build a solid foundation and become competitive as soon as possible,” Xabi concluded.