Chelsea Eyes Xabi Alonso as Potential Replacement for Mauricio Pochettino Amidst Recent Struggles
Chelsea Football Club is reportedly considering Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso as a potential replacement for their current manager, Mauricio Pochettino.
Despite Pochettino’s job reportedly not being immediately at risk, the Blues find themselves in 11th place in the Premier League after successive defeats to Liverpool and Wolves, conceding eight goals in the process.
The Guardian indicates that the Chelsea hierarchy is contemplating a managerial change, to secure Alonso from Bayer Leverkusen as swiftly as possible.
Alonso, the former Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich star, has impressed Chelsea’s co-owner Behdad Eghbali by guiding Leverkusen to the top of the Bundesliga. Remarkably, Leverkusen remains undefeated in all competitions as of the start of February.
However, this potential appointment faces significant challenges. Alonso is likely committed to completing a potentially historic season with Leverkusen, who recently extended their unbeaten Bundesliga run to 20 games with a 2-0 victory over Darmstadt.
The Spanish manager may also attract attention from other elite clubs in the summer, particularly with managerial uncertainties at Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
Leverkusen’s upcoming fixture against title rivals Bayern adds further intrigue to their Bundesliga campaign. Meanwhile, Chelsea, sitting 14 points adrift of the top four, confronts a challenging FA Cup fourth-round replay against Aston Villa on Wednesday.
As the managerial situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea will pursue alternative options or grant Pochettino more time to reverse the team’s recent struggles.
The Blues confront a critical juncture in their season, balancing domestic and cup competitions amid aspirations for a managerial change.