Macarthur · Midfielder · #22 · Australia · 28 yrs
As is usually the case for Chelsea, it looks set to be another busy summer at Stamford Bridge. Xabi Alonso will arrive as the new manager, after both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior were sacked last...
When Enzo Maresca decided to leave after a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at the end of December. Chelsea did not meet their minimum expectation of qualifying for the Champions League, nor did they win any silverware. Liam Rosenior was appointed as Maresca's successor but lost the dressing room after attempting to move away from his tactical approach and lasted less than four months in the role.
Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has indicated his desire to leave Stamford Bridge over a lack of regular game time. The 24-year-old told head of global goalkeeping Ben Roberts he wants consistent first-team football, having joined from Villarreal for £20.7m in 2024. Under former head coach Enzo Maresca, Jorgensen largely acted as Robert Sanchez's understudy, before being rotated in and out under successor Liam Rosenior.
Chelsea's failure to qualify for Europe will help them become "a real threat" in the Premier League next season, says former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney. A 2-1 defeat at Sunderland on Sunday brought down the curtain on a disappointing season for the Blues, who have sacked Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior along the way. Chelsea, who started the day above Sunderland in eighth, slipped to 10th, to also finish a point and two spots behind Brighton, who qualified for the Conference League.
There are many at Chelsea who will be happy to see the back of another turbulent, disappointing season. It was a year in which Chelsea were talked about as potential title contenders under Enzo Maresca in November, but a shock falling-out after a poor run in December led to the Italian leaving the club on New Year's Day. Although the logic behind appointing Liam Rosenior from partner club Strasbourg made sense, it left both clubs in the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership model damaged by a chaotic situation.
Whether Xabi Alonso starts with a back four or back five, this shape is fluid. For example, higher up the pitch, Alonso often looks to place five players on the last line of attack, who then take it in turn to drop deep and show for the ball. With Chelsea opting for a back five against Manchester City in the FA Cup final and at times under Liam Rosenior, they do possess players capable of playing either shape.
Chelsea's newly-appointed manager Xabi Alonso says he is filled with "immense pride" after signing a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge. The 44-year-old, who has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid by mutual consent in January, will succeed Liam Rosenior and relieve Calum McFarlane of his interim duties when he begins on 1 July. Prior to his La Liga stint, Alonso spent three years in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, leading the club to their first-ever league title and also lifting the German Cup with the Bundesliga side.
The 145th FA Cup final could be Pep Guardiola's last shot at silverware as Manchester City manager. A season that promised so much has turned into a nightmare for the Stamford Bridge outfit. Enzo Maresca's departure as head coach in January triggered a tumultuous spell under Liam Rosenior, marked by significant decline in performance and professionalism among several players in the squad.
