Ex-Arsenal Defender: Alonso Needs Time To Turn Chelsea Around

Former Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal has disclosed that Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso must be given more time to implement his tactics on the team.

After a turbulent 2025/26 campaign that saw the Blues slip to ninth and miss out on European football, the hierarchy views Alonso as the ideal figure to establish a winning culture and rebuild the squad.

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However, in a chat with BetBrothers, Monreal advised supporters not to expect instant results, emphasizing that the manager requires patience to fully implement his system.

“It’s a big job for Xabi Alonso. It’s a big responsibility. I think he’s a really good manager, but my only concern is he needs time. If Chelsea gives him time, he’s going to do it really well.

“But in football, most clubs want results from the first day. And it’s going to be a big challenge for Xabi Alonso to do that.

“For example, in Real Madrid he was doing a good job, but they didn’t wait for him. In the first moment they had the opportunity to sack him. They did it.

“Chelsea have a good team, really, really good players. Are they a threat to Arsenal? Yes, of course. If you see Chelsea’s squad, you realise immediately that they have a really good team.