Rafael Benitez know Xabi Alonso better than most, and his thoughts on how the new manager will get on at Chelsea will have Blues fans excited.
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We’re now just 24 hours away from Xabi Alonso taking his first training session as Chelsea manager, and we’re all super excited for his reign to begin. We’re not quite sure what to expect yet, but Rafael Benitez is a man who knows him well. He managed him at two different clubs, and has known him for more than 20 years.
The former Liverpool boss was on TalkSport this morning discussing what he thought Alonso would bring to Chelsea.
Benitez backs his former player to “do well” at Chelsea
“Alonso is very clever, I think he’s intelligent, his approach is good,” Benitez said.
“I followed him when he was in Real Sociedad B team, and it was a surprise when he did so well and he did fantastic in Leverkusen. And coming to Madrid, a lot of people compared him with me in terms of coaches that we like to do things seriously, to work hard, all the players committed, but Real Madrid is a special one.
“It’s not just the dressing room, it’s part of the dressing room, depends on the people at the top. I think Alonso didn’t have the support he needed from the top, and that is the reason why I suppose that they [Chelsea] realise the potential that he has, and if they support him, I think he’s a good coach, and he will do well.”
In other news…
A loan move has been agreed for one of Chelsea’s young starlets this summer – it’s not a club you might have predicted, however.
Enzo Fernandez’s Chelsea future remains very uncertain – Real Madrid have said they don’t want to sign him, but the Blues also don’t want to reward his agitation with a new contract.
