{"id":10094,"date":"2026-05-13T18:25:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:25:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=10094"},"modified":"2026-05-13T18:25:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:25:10","slug":"jimmy-floyd-hasselbaink-identifies-potential-problem-if-chelsea-hire-xabi-alonso-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=10094","title":{"rendered":"Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink identifies potential ‘problem’ if Chelsea hire Xabi Alonso | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\"Real\t<\/div>
Xabi Alonso is said to be \u2018open\u2019 to the possibility of managing Chelsea (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says Chelsea may encounter a \u2018problem\u2019 if they hire Xabi Alonso but refuse to \u2018give him the keys\u2019 or allow him to lead on \u2018football decisions\u2019.<\/p>\n

Chelsea\u2019s search for a seventh permanent manager in the space of just five years is ongoing after Liam Rosenior was relieved of his duties last month.<\/p>\n

Rosenior enjoyed a promising start to life in the Stamford Bridge dugout but results spiralled from early February and a miserable run of five straight league defeats \u2013 without scoring a single goal \u2013 meant his position was deemed untenable.<\/p>\n

Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane picked up the pieces from Rosenior\u2019s turbulent 107-day tenure and has done a commendable job, steering the club into this year\u2019s FA Cup final before holding Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield at the weekend.<\/p>\n

But a heavy 3-1 defeat at home to\u00a0Nottingham Forest\u00a0served as a stark reminder of Chelsea\u2019s desperate league position \u2013 and Stamford Bridge bosses are eager to secure a deal for Rosenior\u2019s permanent successor sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n

Since Rosenior\u2019s sacking, a host of high-profile names have been linked, including the likes of\u00a0Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Andoni Iraola, with\u00a0the latter\u00a0confirming that this season will be his last at Bournemouth.<\/p>\n

Alonso has also emerged as a genuine candidate in recent days and reports on Monday indicated he would be \u2018open\u2019 to the prospect of taking charge in west London.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Paris\t<\/div>
The Spaniard has been out of a job since his dismissal at Real Madrid (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"Chelsea\t<\/div>
Hasselbaink says Alonso must be \u2018given the keys\u2019 if he joins Chelsea (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 44-year-old announced himself as one of the most sought-after coaches in European football at Bayer Leverkusen, but has been out of a job since parting ways with Real Madrid after only eight months in January.<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t think he did that badly at Real Madrid,\u2019 former Chelsea striker Hasselbaink said of Alonso on Sky Sports News.<\/p>\n

\u2018Obviously what is expected at Real Madrid is being at the top all season but I think he was still within touching distance of Barcelona.<\/p>\n

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\u2018The problem is he wants to manage how he wants to manage and he feels that the players have to follow him. Stars are a little bit different, you need the support of the club.<\/p>\n

\u2018I really like that, I like that he has his way, \u201cThis is how I see it, you players are going to follow my guidance and this is how I want to play and you\u2019re going to play in a system, you\u2019re going to run\u201d, and if Chelsea chooses him, you have to give him the keys.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve always said that whoever you choose, you have to give them the keys and the players need to know that he is the decision-maker.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"FBL-ENG-PR-BRIGHTON-CHELSEA\"\t<\/div>
Rosenior\u2019s reign lasted only 107 days (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Asked if Chelsea\u2019s hierarchy would be prepared to let Alonso be the key decision-maker, Hasselbaink replied: \u2018That\u2019s a question for them, but I think that\u2019s the only way it will work.<\/p>\n

\u2018Players need to know that the manager is in charge for football decisions and the moment they know that, they will run harder, they will do their best.<\/p>\n

\u2018So if you\u2019re going to choose Alonso, give him the keys and trust the process. Trust the process and let him lead.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Liverpool\t<\/div>
McFarlane will lead Chelsea in this weekend\u2019s FA Cup final (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hasselbaink has a level of sympathy for Rosenior and feels strongly that the issues at Chelsea run far deeper than whoever happens to find themselves sitting in the dugout.<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t think Liam Rosenior really was the wrong person,\u2019 he went on.<\/p>\n

\u2018Enzo Maresca also had no credentials, he didn\u2019t have experience, but he was absolutely magnificent. He played a certain way and he was successful. <\/p>\n

\u2018He won the Europa Conference League, he won the Club World Cup, he got them in the Champions League when he left, they were in a good position.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Liverpool\t<\/div>
The Blues held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield at the weekend (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018What happened in that spell of time when Enzo left and Liam was there? What happened? That\u2019s what we need to find. Why did it go suddenly like that? I cannot only be Liam\u2019s fault.<\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s where they really need to have a look at what has gone wrong and we need to make that better for the next manager to come in.<\/p>\n

\u2018Yes, I do agree that I prefer someone with pedigree and who has been there because it\u2019s a big, big club with big, big players. Normally you would associate that job, when it becomes available, with a Thomas Tuchel, a Mauricio Pochettino, a Jose Mourinho, a Carlo Ancelotti, these kind of names.<\/p>\n

\u2018Why are those sort of names not linked anymore? That\u2019s what we have to think about in my opinion.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Manchester\t<\/div>
Guardiola\u2019s City enter the final as the overwhelming favourites (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chelsea\u2019s squad have a perfect opportunity to end their immensely disappointing season on a high this weekend when they take to the field against Manchester City at Wembley.<\/p>\n

And while they undoubtedly go into the final as the underdogs, Hasselbaink is not ruling out Enzo Fernandez and Co pulling off a big upset.<\/p>\n

\u2018There\u2019s always a chance. You never know, that\u2019s the beauty of football,\u2019 the Dutchman, whose Chelsea side finished runners-up in the FA Cup back in 2002, explained. <\/p>\n

\u2018It looks very tough on paper, it looks very hard. If you would have said to me that Chelsea would get a draw at Liverpool, play actually really well and deserve to win, I would have said, \u201cReally?\u201d, due to the way they\u2019ve been playing of late.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Manchester\t<\/div>
Chelsea drew with City in the Premier League back in January (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018So that\u2019s the next step for them. It\u2019s a challenge, it\u2019s going to be difficult, but it\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n

\u2018They went to Manchester City a few months ago and they drew that game, they played the second half exceptionally well.<\/p>\n

\u2018A final is a final, you never know what can happen. It\u2019s a one-off game so there\u2019s everything to play for.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Southampton\t<\/div>
Palmer needs a \u2018good holiday\u2019 after the World Cup, says Hasselbaink (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s proven to be Cole Palmer\u2019s most difficult year yet since swapping City for Chelsea back in 2023, with fitness problems making for a stop-start season in which he has missed 12 games in the Premier League alone.<\/p>\n

On Palmer\u2019s struggles, Hasselbaink said: \u2018He didn\u2019t have a proper pre-season, that\u2019s what it started with, then there were niggling injuries and he hasn\u2019t really been able to get his rhythm going.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s not been able to get himself playing pain-free and he would be the first one to say that he hasn\u2019t played his best football. <\/p>\n

\u2018But he still attracts players to him when he\u2019s on the pitch and gives free space to other players.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think he needs a good holiday after the World Cup and then from there he can build himself back up.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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