It was a surprise to many that Chelsea managed to hire Xabi Alonso ahead of Liverpool this summer, although it is believed chiefs at Anfield didn’t want to give him too much power.
The Blues are expected to back Alonso with his transfer targets this summer, after not offering the same service to the likes of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
Fenway Sports Group chief Michael Edwards was crucial to the decision making that saw them ultimately decide to hire Andoni Iraola, rather than a manager who won the Champions League with them as a player.
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Chelsea will feel smug about Xabi Alonso hiring after Liverpool chief exit
Back in June, Mark Ogden confirmed that Alonso was not high on Liverpool’s list because they didn’t want him to be more powerful than the chiefs at the club.
He told ESPN: “I’ve been told right from the outset, right from back to two years ago, that Xabi Alonso was never really kind of high on Liverpool’s list.
“And I think a lot of it is, the fact that clubs don’t really want to go for a club legend if they can help it because that club legend becomes quite a powerful figure and you don’t want a manager more powerful than sporting directors in the hierarchy, do you? So that’s one element.
“But I think his style of play, I mean, this change with Slot is being designed by Liverpool in many aspects to have a more attacking front foot way of playing and that is Xabi Alonso’s way of playing, really.
“Xabi Alonso isn’t that, he’s certainly not a kind of a Klopp disciple. I’m not saying that Iraola is, but Iraola, his Bournemouth, do have a very high energy way of playing football. So that is more suited to what Liverpool want.”
Fast forward to now though, and Edwards has left his role at FSG, suggesting that there is set to be an upheaval behind the scenes at Anfield.
The feelings of supporters turned sour there last season after they drastically failed to defend the Premier League title, and plenty of them saw Alonso as the perfect candidate to come in.
Arne Slot was still in charge when the Spaniard was confirmed to be headed to Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea getting their business in order early in that department.
Edwards was previously wanted at Chelsea
Chelsea presented their project to the transfer guru back in 2022, with Edwards said to be blown away by the project at Stamford Bridge.
They decided instead to hire Paul Winstanley to operate alongside Laurence Stewart, with the duo incredibly unpopular amongst Chelsea supporters.
Edwards is thought of as one of the best in his role, and would have been a sensational coup for the Blues after he had originally left Liverpool.
However, the Blues will want chiefs who believe in the Alonso vision now, as Chelsea look to return to the top table of European football under the Spaniard.
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