Alonso says yes
Xabi Alonso has agreed to become Chelsea's next manager. It marks the first time BlueCo have stepped outside their established hiring model to land a coach of this calibre (1). Alonso himself called it "a beautiful project" and "a very good option," promising "we're going to make a good team" in an exclusive interview with El Chiringuito. This is a statement appointment, one that reshapes expectations for next season before a ball is even kicked.
Joao Pedro on World Cup standby
Neymar has suffered a calf injury just weeks before the World Cup, and your man Joao Pedro is on standby for the Brazil squad (2). If Neymar is ruled out, Pedro gets the call. He has been electric when fit this season, a late World Cup spot would be a huge moment for him and a proud one for the club.
One game to go
Chelsea have just one match left this season before attention turns fully to summer planning and the 2026/2027 campaign (3). With Alonso now confirmed as the incoming manager, that final game carries a different kind of weight, it is the last look at this iteration of the squad before everything changes.
Fan reactions
The mood is buzzing. Alonso's own words from the El Chiringuito exclusive are lighting up the subreddit, fans are pinning hope on his promise to build something serious, not just inherit a project. There is also pride around Mamadou Sarr and Nicolas Jackson making Senegal's World Cup squad, adding to the sense that big things are brewing. Join the discussion
