Chelsea

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast

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I was surprised to a point with Xabi Alonso taking the job on in the sense that I'm sure he would have other options if he was to bide his time and stay put.

I know Chelsea are going through a period not necessarily linked to the vast success they had during the Roman Abramovich era, and there is a transition away from that era, but they are still one of European football's iconic clubs.

When the opportunity comes to join a club of that size, certainly one in London in the Premier League, I think managers like Alonso would be silly to just disregard and dismiss it.

There is going to be a surprise he's taken this job given his standing in the game and the job he did at Bayer Leverkusen and the facts he's one of the most exciting young managers in European football.

If Chelsea can give him the control he wants in terms of recruitment and other areas of the club then they have got a really good manager there now.

What time has told us in the era under the American ownership is that the head coach doesn't generally have much control over recruitment and the footballing operation. What is pertinent here is that Alonso has been given the title of manager instead of head coach.

That might be a symbolic gesture but I think it indicates that the ownership are willing to give Alonso a greater say in how the club is run from a football perspective, but also almost certainly in regards to recruitment.

The bottom line for him in his first season will be to qualify for the Champions League. In terms of the way Chelsea are set up financially, and what they spend in the transfer market, they require the financial input that Champions League football brings.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Chelsea have an interest in Aston Villa attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers but Arsenal, Manchester United and Paris St-Germain are also looking at the 23-year-old England international. (Talksport), external

The Blues are targeting a keeper and are seriously considering a move for Sunderland's 23-year-old Dutchman Robin Roefs. (Mirror), external

Brentford have joined Brighton and Chelsea in showing an interest in Cologne's 19-year-old German winger Said El Mala. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We asked for your views on Xabi Alonso becoming Chelsea's new manager.

Here are some of your comments:

Harry: The appointment of Alonso is the first sense of optimism I have felt since the 3-0 against Barcelona. It is the first Blue Co decision I have fully supported since they took over as well, hopefully steps in the right direction.

Tony: So long as they allow him to actually manage the team and the signings then this is a good appointment. I'm just not very confident he will be given the space and authority he needs. Hoping for the best!

Del: As long as the owners let him manage and pick transfer targets then I think it will be a success. Surely the owners have learned something in the past four years?

Dave: Xabi's appointment will hopefully bring stability back to Chelsea FC. Provided he is given a free reign, this may just be the start of something special, but he must be given time. We don't need major surgery with the squad but do need a new goalkeeper and new centre back to line up with Levi Colwill. We need to keep hold of Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella, Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto. Also a top, experienced striker. If Blue Co keep their hands off the football team and management with the players in our youth teams coming through - and there is lots of talent there - we could be a force to be reckoned with in a couple of years.

Jerome: Alonso was definitely the best candidate for the role. We need his winning experience, both as a player and (more importantly) as a manager. I have to admit I didn't believe the owners would go with him. Are they willing to back him all the way, and give him the kind of influence others before him asked? Hopefully they do, because clearly they need to acknowledge their mistakes of the past.

John: Chelsea fan for 35 years here, and it's getting to the point where I wonder what difference a manager really makes at this stage. I don't think they have full control, and never get enough time anyway, so it's hard to feel hopeful about any appointment now.

Michael: I just hope his style is more exciting than the past couple of years. Whilst Enzo Maresca was able to win games, we had to sit through an awful lot of boring stuff for fleeting moments of entertaining football. It was even duller under Liam Rosenior. I thought it was improving under Calum McFarlane, but passing a corner back to the goalie in an FA Cup final indicates the lack of adventure and confidence is ingrained in the players.

Peter: He needs to be given time and freedom to create a team. He needs to also tap into the winning history of the club, the John Terrys, Thiago Silvas, etc. Changing everything over the past few years ripped the heart and mentality out of a team needing to naturally evolve from the Abramovich era. Good luck as he will need it.

Steven: Absolutely buzzing with this appointment. First one since they took over where you're actually excited and think they're right for the Chelsea role, especially making him a manager too. They have got it wrong, now they include a manager and give him control, the right appointment too, best man they could have got.

Ben: Best thing this ownership has achieved. Perfect man for the job and I can't wait for next season.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Chelsea are facing cultural issues that continue to undermine their progress. These were brought into focus by a protest march involving about 200 fans on Wembley Way on Saturday.

There is a growing disconnect between the supporters and the club, as well as the fans and the players. In some cases, there are also divisions within the squad, the players and the wider organisation.

One contributing factor, as influential co-owner Behdad Eghbali has acknowledged, is "getting that stability on the manager side of things", which is something the club "hasn't done right as yet".

The hope is that someone of Xabi Alonso's status and authority can help address that, reinforcing the club's ambition and improving communication with both players and supporters.

On the pitch, he will be tasked with improving the team mentally, physically and tactically.

Questions have been asked about the squad's mentality, with accusations of players "downing tools" this season, having the worst disciplinary record in the division and a poor record in key matches.

That includes a 14-game winless run against Manchester City and seven consecutive defeats in domestic cup finals.

Physically, Chelsea have been outperformed by opponents, having covered less distance than any other team in the Premier League this season, aside from a single exception at Anfield in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool last weekend.

Defensively, the problems under Enzo Maresca earlier in the campaign evolved into wider issues at both ends of the pitch under Liam Rosenior, whose six-game losing run without scoring ultimately led to his exit.

It was a closely fought match against Pep Guardiola's side, but interim boss Calum McFarlane was left bemoaning the fact "football can be cruel", believing his side deserved at least one penalty.

He added: "It is a really talented group. There is lots of quality. The fight and heart has been questioned at times but, in the last two performances, I don't think you can question that."

There is quality, but there is plenty of work still to be done.

Chelsea have a furious fanbase and have gone from Maresca to Rosenior to McFarlane and now Alonso in five months.

The club's ownership is under scrutiny and Alonso has much to do. It will be a tough task trying to bring it all together.

Read the full article here

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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.

"Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club," Alonso said.

"From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.

"There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies."

A club statement added: "We look forward with confidence to the next phase in collaboration with Xabi Alonso, united in the determination to bring success to Stamford Bridge, a hallmark of the club's history and future."

How are you feeling about the appointment? What can Alonso bring to the Blues?

Let us know your thoughts here

We asked for your thoughts after Chelsea's FA Cup final defeat by Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Keith: A very good performance just lacked that cutting edge up front. Disappointed? Yes, but hopefully we can build on this in the last two games and next season under a permanent manager.

Kate: We turned up and put in a really good performance, although we never looked liked scoring. What a difference Colwill makes - boy, have we missed him. Hato was impressive and everyone put in a shift which has been missing in so many games this season.

Jocaleb: Chelsea have spent so much money but today you look at the bench when we went 1-0 down and you simply cannot look at any of the players on the bench and think yes, he can come on and change the game. It's absolutely shocking that we're lacking so much squad depth with so much money spent. No matter what manager comes in unless the owners change their strategy, Chelsea will not win anything for a very long time.

Stevie: We learned that this side can put the yards in and we learned that this side still lack the killer forward we need. We saw again that the business model of the club is to the detriment of the defence and goalkeeper situation. No leaders that stand out on the pitch with regards to pulling them together during the big moments in a game.

Yusuf: Interesting how much the narrative changes if either of the two "shoulder-to-shoulder" penalty shouts are given. Chelsea likely would have seen the game out and had momentum going into the summer with an FA Cup and Alonso at the helm.

James: Not a classic and despite my optimism the result I expected. A massive internal review is needed over the summer. If Chelsea are to take the next step and win finals, signing experienced players is key.

Chally: A much-improved Chelsea performance after a very poor season. They managed to hold off City but showed very little going forward. Need wholesale changes next season.

Bri: A shadow of previous teams. No pace going forward and always an easy option of a backward pass. Palmer a shadow from last season and we have no real threat from a decent number nine!

Sami Mokbel and Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport

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Chelsea are closing in on appointing Spaniard Xabi Alonso as the club's next permanent head coach.

The former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss, 44, is expected to sign a four-year deal in the coming days.

Talks have been ongoing for a number of weeks and Alonso is understood to have been open to the role if he received certain assurances.

What do you think about Alonso being the preferred candidate? Tell us

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On the Wembley occasion...

• There were just 16 shots in this match (Man City 9, Chelsea 7), the lowest in an FA Cup final since Wembley re-opened in 2007.

A familiar feeling in a bad way...

• Chelsea are just the second side to lose four consecutive FA Cup final appearances, after Leicester City between 1949 and 1969.

• Chelsea's Reece James has played in four FA Cup finals and ended on the losing side each time. It's the joint-most different finals a player has appeared in without ever winning the competition, along with Paul Bracewell.

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A familiar feeling in a good way...

• Pep Guardiola is the first ever manager to win three or more English league titles, three or more European Cup/Champions League titles, three or more English FA Cups and three or more English League Cups.

• Man City's Marc Guehi is the fourth player to play for the different winning teams in consecutive FA Cup finals (Crystal Palace last year) after Arthur Kinnaird (Wanderers 1878, Old Etonians 1879), Brian Talbot (Ipswich 1978, Arsenal 1979) and Olivier Giroud (Arsenal 2017, Chelsea 2018).

Some hope for Chelsea...

• At 24 years and 301 days, Chelsea's was the youngest average starting XI for an FA Cup final since Nottingham Forest in 1991 (23y 309d).

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Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane speaking to BBC Sport: "I am proud of the performance. I thought it was a really even game. Congratulations to City, they came out on top. The game was decided by one moment of quality. On another day we get that. I thought it was a really even game. I thought we got into some really good areas and both teams created similar chances."

McFarlane thought his side should have had a penalty when Jorell Hato went down but that he has not spoken to the referee.

McFarlane continued: "I am really happy with the performance, how we executed the tactical plan. I thought it worked well at times. This group has shown what they are capable of doing. City are one of the best in the world and we have gone toe to toe with them. It was really even in my opinion."

"We have two games, we need to get six points to give ourselves the best chance of making Europe. It's a massive club, we need to be competing in the best competitions."

Chelsea captain Reece James, speaking to TNT Sports: "I mean disappointing obviously, to lose. Not much in the game. It was pretty even. They had one half chance, and they managed to take it.

"No one is happy when you lose. We have lost a fair few games recently - it has been difficult.

"Every time we step out onto the pitch the target is to win."

On what Chelsea need in the future: "I think the key thing is stability.

"Last week we went to Anfield and probably should have won, then we lose here today. It is difficult. There is a lot we need to learn and to take forward."

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Chelsea have now lost an English football record four FA Cup finals in a row and seven domestic finals in a row since Antonio Conte's side won the FA Cup.

It also leaves Chelsea with the real prospect of missing out on European qualification while ninth in the Premier League.

It will be an issue for any rebuilding job under a new manager.

Former England Striker Wayne Rooney speaking on BBC One: "It wasn't a great game. I thought Chelsea were good. You know with the quality Man City have that sooner or later one of the superstars will open you up. The goal was incredible.

"Chelsea had some half opportunities and penalty shouts that weren't penalties. You just know with City they can create that one chance."

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Micah Richards added: "He has come into the team, played up front at times, on the right. It's very hard to come into a team of superstars but he has shown exactly what he can do. Arguably player of the season this year."

And Daniel Sturridge offered: "Chelsea were very disciplined. It takes those moments of brilliance. A little movement from Haaland and the delicacy of the flick from Semenyo was instinctive. That's what it takes to win titles like this. Again, Bernardo Silva tirelessly working for his team-mates. He has put so much in. Man City keep going from strength to strength. It is a successful season for them in regard to trophies."

Chelsea tasted defeat at Wembley in a hard-fought FA Cup final.

Whether you were at Wembley Stadium or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

Come back on Sunday for a selection of your replies