Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has warned the club against appointing Xabi Alonso, urging them to hire Cesc Fabregas instead. As the Blues face a complex battle for European qualification, relying heavily on the upcoming FA Cup final, their former midfielder has just secured historic European football for Como, proving his immense managerial potential in Italy.
For Liverpool's bitterly frustrated fans, watching Chelsea end a six-game losing streak by claiming a thoroughly deserved point at Anfield on Saturday was bad enough. However, Monday's news that the Blues are now exploring a deal to appoint Xabi Alonso as their next permanent boss has come as an even bigger blow to a set of supporters struggling to see any light at the end of the tunnel right now.
Chelsea have held talks with Andoni Iraola as they intensify their search for a new manager. The Bournemouth boss has also rejected approaches from Crystal Palace, while Xabi Alonso and Marco Silva remain under consideration.
Chelsea have identified Xabi Alonso as the primary candidate to take over at Stamford Bridge following a period of significant instability in the dugout. The former Real Madrid head coach is reportedly open to the move, marking a potential shift in the club's strategy regarding managerial influence over recruitment.
According to reports in the Spanish newspaper AS, Liverpool have contacted Real Madrid to enquire about Xabi Alonso and to gain insight into his brief, underwhelming spell as manager at the Bernabeu. With uncertainty growing around Arne Slot's long-term future, Alonso has been linked with taking over at Anfield.
Real Madrid is spiraling into chaos on the eve of El Clásico. The club is set to finish the season trophy-less, and players are now openly sniping at one another. The fracture appears to have been simmering for months.
Former Chelsea and Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has told GOAL why Xabi Alonso would be taking a big risk by agreeing to fill “the hottest seat in world football” at Stamford Bridge. With strong ties to Anfield, the World Cup winner is said to be in contention for a Premier League return in west London. Rafa Benitez has previously trodden that path, and proved how difficult it can be to win over supporters that will demand immediate results.
Fulham find themselves in a state of limbo regarding the future of manager Marco Silva as interest from Chelsea continues to intensify. Despite a long-standing contract offer on the table, the Portuguese tactician is taking his time to evaluate his next move while the Blues consider him for their vacant head coach role.
Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has thrown a curveball into the conversation regarding who should succeed Arne Slot at Anfield, suggesting that Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola could be the ideal candidate. While Xabi Alonso has long been the frontrunner to take over on Merseyside, Nicol has expressed reservations following the Spaniard's difficult tenure in La Liga.
Is this really the best you can do, Florentino Perez? When Real Madrid sacked Xabi Alonso after less than five months on the job, there figured to be, at least, some sort of succession plan. If Alonso, who was so hyped, so early, was to walk away, then it only made sense that Los Blancos, power that they are, would have someone tailor-made to walk into the role.
Paris Saint-Germain knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League for the second consecutive season at Anfield on Tuesday evening. Unsurprisingly, Ousmane Dembele proved decisive once again. Just over a year after scoring the only goal of the second leg of the two teams' last-16 tie, which eventually led to PSG progressing on penalties, the winger returned to Merseyside to score twice in a 2-0 win that earned the defending champions a comprehensive 4-0 win on aggregate.
Brazilian forward Endrick has broken his silence on his challenging spell under manager Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid. After struggling for minutes and facing mental hurdles, the teenager is now thriving on loan at Lyon. Rather than holding a grudge, the youngster credits his difficult period at the Bernabeu for paving the way to his remarkable resurgence.
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