{"id":334246,"date":"2026-05-14T00:34:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T19:04:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=334246"},"modified":"2026-05-14T00:34:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T19:04:36","slug":"jimmy-floyd-hasselbaink-identifies-potential-problem-if-chelsea-hire-xabi-alonso-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/14\/jimmy-floyd-hasselbaink-identifies-potential-problem-if-chelsea-hire-xabi-alonso-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink identifies potential ‘problem’ if Chelsea hire Xabi Alonso | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Xabi Alonso is alleged to be \u2018open\u2019 to the potential for managing Chelsea (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says Chelsea may encounter a \u2018problem\u2019 should they hire Xabi Alonso but refuse to \u2018give him the keys\u2019 or allow him to guide on \u2018football decisions\u2019.<\/p>\n

Chelsea\u2019s seek for a seventh everlasting manager within the space of just five years is ongoing after Liam Rosenior was put out of his misery and relieved of his duties last month.<\/p>\n

Rosenior enjoyed a promising begin to life within the Stamford Bridge dugout but results spiralled from early February and a wretched run of 5 straight league defeats \u2013 without scoring a single goal \u2013 meant his position was deemed untenable.<\/p>\n

Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane picked up the pieces from Rosenior\u2019s turbulent 107-day tenure and has done a commendable job, steering the club into this 12 months\u2019s FA Cup final before holding Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield on the weekend.<\/p>\n

But a heavy 3-1 defeat at home to\u00a0Nottingham Forest\u00a0served as a stark reminder of Chelsea\u2019s desperate league position \u2013 and Stamford Bridge bosses are desirous to secure a deal for Rosenior\u2019s everlasting successor sooner relatively than later.<\/p>\n

Since Rosenior\u2019s sacking, a number of high-profile names have been linked, including the likes of\u00a0Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Andoni Iraola, with\u00a0the latter\u00a0confirming that this season might be his last at Bournemouth.<\/p>\n

Alonso has also emerged as a real candidate in recent days and reports on Monday indicated he can be \u2018open\u2019 to the prospect of taking charge in west London.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Paris\t<\/div>
The Spaniard has been out of a job since his dismissal at Real Madrid (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"Chelsea\t<\/div>
Hasselbaink says Alonso should be \u2018given the keys\u2019 if he joins Chelsea (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 44-year-old announced himself as one of the vital sought-after coaches in European football at Bayer Leverkusen, but has been out of a job since parting ways with Real Madrid after only eight months in January.<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t think he did that badly at Real Madrid,\u2019 former Chelsea striker Hasselbaink said of Alonso on Sky Sports News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018Obviously what is anticipated at Real Madrid is being at the highest all season but I feel he was still inside touching distance of Barcelona.<\/p>\n

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\u2018The issue is he wants to administer how he wants to administer and he feels that the players need to follow him. Stars are a bit of bit different, you would like the support of the club.<\/p>\n

\u2018I actually like that, I like that he has his way, \u201cThat is how I see it, you players are going to follow my guidance and that is how I would like to play and also you\u2019re going to play in a system, you\u2019re going to run\u201d, and if Chelsea chooses him, you’ve to provide him the keys.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve all the time said that whoever you select, you’ve to provide them the keys and the players have to know that he’s the decision-maker.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"FBL-ENG-PR-BRIGHTON-CHELSEA\"\t<\/div>
Rosenior\u2019s reign lasted only 107 days (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Asked if Chelsea\u2019s hierarchy can be prepared to let Alonso be the important thing decision-maker, Hasselbaink replied: \u2018That\u2019s a matter for them, but I feel that\u2019s the one way it should work.<\/p>\n

\u2018Players have to know that the manager is in charge for football decisions and the moment they know that, they may run harder, they may do their best.<\/p>\n

\u2018So should you\u2019re going to decide on Alonso, give him the keys and trust the method. Trust the method and let him lead.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Liverpool\t<\/div>
McFarlane will lead Chelsea on this weekend\u2019s FA Cup final (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hasselbaink has a level of sympathy for Rosenior and feels strongly that the problems at Chelsea run far deeper than whoever happens to search out themselves sitting within the dugout.<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t think Liam Rosenior really was the mistaken person,\u2019 he went on.<\/p>\n

\u2018Enzo Maresca also had no credentials, he didn\u2019t have experience, but he was absolutely magnificent. He played a certain way and he was successful. <\/p>\n

\u2018He won the Europa Conference League, he won the Club World Cup, he got them within the Champions League when he left, they were in a superb position.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Liverpool\t<\/div>
The Blues held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield on the weekend (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018What happened in that spell of time when Enzo left and Liam was there? What happened? That\u2019s what we’d like to search out. Why did it go suddenly like that? I cannot only be Liam\u2019s fault.<\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s where they really want to have a have a look at what has gone mistaken and we’d like to make that higher for the following manager to are available in.<\/p>\n

\u2018Yes, I do agree that I prefer someone with pedigree and who has been there since it\u2019s a giant, big club with big, big players. Normally you’ll associate that job, when it becomes available, with a Thomas Tuchel, a Mauricio Pochettino, a Jose Mourinho, a Carlo Ancelotti, these type of names.<\/p>\n

\u2018Why are those form of names not linked anymore? That\u2019s what we’ve to take into consideration in my view.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Manchester\t<\/div>
Guardiola\u2019s City enter the ultimate because the overwhelming favourites (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chelsea\u2019s squad have an ideal opportunity to finish their immensely disappointing season on a high this weekend after they take to the sector against Manchester City at Wembley.<\/p>\n

And while they undoubtedly go into the ultimate because the underdogs, Hasselbaink isn’t ruling out Enzo Fernandez and Co pulling off a giant upset.<\/p>\n

\u2018There\u2019s all the time a likelihood. You never know, that\u2019s the great thing about football,\u2019 the Dutchman, whose Chelsea side finished runners-up within the FA Cup back in 2002, explained. <\/p>\n

\u2018It looks very tough on paper, it looks very hard. In the event you would have said to me that Chelsea would get a draw at Liverpool, play actually rather well and should win, I’d have said, \u201cReally?\u201d, attributable to the best way they\u2019ve been playing of late.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Manchester\t<\/div>
Chelsea drew with City within the Premier League back in January (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018In order that\u2019s the following step for them. It\u2019s a challenge, it\u2019s going to be difficult, but it surely\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n

\u2018They went to Manchester City a number of months ago they usually drew that game, they played the second half exceptionally well.<\/p>\n

\u2018A final is a final, you never know what can occur. It\u2019s a one-off game so there\u2019s every thing to play for.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Southampton\t<\/div>
Palmer needs a \u2018good holiday\u2019 after the World Cup, says Hasselbaink (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s proven to be Cole Palmer\u2019s most difficult 12 months yet since swapping City for Chelsea back in 2023, with fitness problems making for a stop-start season wherein he has missed 12 games within the Premier League alone.<\/p>\n

On Palmer\u2019s struggles, Hasselbaink said: \u2018He didn\u2019t have a correct pre-season, that\u2019s what it began with, then there have been niggling injuries and he hasn\u2019t really been capable of get his rhythm going.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s not been capable of get himself playing pain-free and he can be the primary one to say that he hasn\u2019t played his best football. <\/p>\n

\u2018But he still attracts players to him when he\u2019s on the pitch and offers free space to other players.<\/p>\n

\u2018I feel he needs a superb holiday after the World Cup after which from there he can construct himself back up.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: \u2018Infuriating\u2019 \u2013 Chelsea urged to sell \u00a340m star in summer transfer window<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Man Utd and Chelsea add record-breaking Spain international to summer transfer shortlists<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Daniel Levy speaks out on Spurs relegation battle with West Ham<\/span><\/p>\n

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