What will be in Alonso's inbox tray as new Chelsea manager?

With an FA Cup final defeat left to stew on, it's been a pretty dismal campaign for Chelsea.

Yet there is optimism ahead of next season with the confirmation that Xabi Alonso will take charge of the club next term. 

The former Real Madrid boss has signed a four-year deal with the Blues and has been interestingly named 'manager' rather than head coach, which is the first time an appointment under the Blueco ownership has been given that title. 

Alonso will begin his tenure on July 1 and will inherit a club in need of renewed vigour and a style and system to help them challenge for top honours once again. 

DAZN News looks at the biggest issues the Spaniard will have to deal with.

Find a commanding centre-back 

Chelsea's defence has been a massive issue this season, especially since the turn of the year, when clean sheets have been at a premium.

In fact, you have to go back to the middle of January to find the last time the Blues managed to keep a shutout, a run which has seen their Champions League hopes go up in smoke.

It's an issue that's dogged the side all season. There are a lot of talented defenders in the squad, and in fairness, the team has been robbed of Levi Colwill's services for most of the campaign, but it lacks an experienced head to lead the backline.

It's such an easy notion to say 'they need a leader', but like most of Chelsea's squad, their defence lacks a commanding presence who can organise and take responsibility. It's a profile they've failed to replace since Thiago Silva left the club, and a new centre-half to slot alongside the fit-again Colwill should be a big priority for Alonso.

The goalkeeping issue

It's no secret that Chelsea need to upgrade between the sticks, too.

Robert Sanchez probably gets too much of a hard time as the club's current number one, because the Spaniard is a capable goalkeeper, but is he a keeper that is going to win you silverware? 

The consciousness has been probably not, so the Blues will be in the market for a new stopper this summer. However, their level of activity will be diminished thanks to lack of Champions League football, so some clever recruitment is required if they are to find a top-drawer, reliable number one for next season.

Getting Cole Palmer's spark back 

This season has been Palmer's quietest season in a Chelsea shirt, with injury playing a major factor, but he's never quite found the swagger that is the hallmark of his game. 

Nullified slightly by Enzo Maresca, even under Liam Rosenior, the England star hasn't been able to dictate games the way we've seen him do in the past. 

What Palmer needs is a pre-season under the new boss to know his role, and a remit from Alonso on how he wants his star attraction to perform in his Chelsea system. 

After all, if Alosno's team has a fit and firing Palmer in it next season, then that's already one-up on what we've seen from most of this term.

Finding the right creators 

In Joao Pedro, Chelsea have a 'number nine' who has excelled this season and should be the focal point of their attack once again in 2026-27, but it's what's around him that needs work. 

Chelsea showed how frustrating they can be in attack during the FA Cup final, and this season suffered their worst barren run in front of goals since the mid-nineties. 

There are plenty of creative players in their ranks, with Jamie Gittens, Pedro Neto, Esteavo and Alejandro Garnarcho just to name a few, but none of them has taken on that responsibility.

The club have been linked with the likes of Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers, and they would be a massive upgrade on what they've got, but with no elite European football to offer, it's hard to see them enticing that calibre of player to West London.

Even if they make what they've got work, or they are cannier in their transfer dealings and find attackers who will complement star names Pedro and Palmer in next season's frontline.

Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

How to watch the Premier League in Canada

Soccer fans in Canada can watch every Premier League match during the 2025-26 season on DAZN.

With Fubo Sports on DAZN, Canadians can catch Premier League and Serie A action. Additionally, DAZN is the home of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Bundesliga, and more.

For pricing information and to sign up to watch, click here.