The Guardian comments on Chelsea's transfer strategy, emphasising the need to bring in experienced players.

While it may be an exaggeration to say Chelsea has transformed from a development hub into a retirement home, even after recruiting Henderson and Welbeck, there has been a clear shift in Chelsea's transfer strategy this summer.

The club finally has more mature players, and Alonso hopes that bringing in experienced personnel will help the young squad perform with greater composure when facing adversity.

Discipline issues plagued Chelsea last season: they received 11 red cards across all competitions, many stemming from their own mistakes. Chelsea played too impulsively, accumulated too many yellow cards for protesting decisions, and tended to collapse at the first sign of trouble. Alonso is known for his calm demeanour throughout his playing career, so it is unsurprising that he prioritises "emotional control" before starting his managerial career with Monday's away fixture against Fulham.

This will be a test of Chelsea's mental resilience. Under the BlueCo era, Craven Cottage has witnessed some dire Chelsea collapses. Fulham has twice beaten their neighbours Chelsea 2-1, and João Félix's red card on his Chelsea debut in 2023, along with Cucurella's dismissal in the opening 22 minutes last season, were pivotal moments.

Chelsea needs to change, and recruiting Alonso is an acknowledgement that the club's coaching philosophy requires adjustment. The club has internally recognised that it underestimated the importance of personal charisma when selecting managers.

They made mistakes with Graham Potter and Liam Rosenior, neither of whom could handle the pressure. Alonso is fundamentally different. The 44-year-old, who led Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title in 2024, impressed Chelsea during negotiations for the managerial position. Chelsea then broke tradition and appointed him as manager rather than head coach.

Now, when Chelsea players look up at the bench, they see a coach with authority. Alonso does not have absolute power; he still operates within a larger management structure and works alongside an extensive recruitment team. However, there is no doubt that his arrival has added credibility to a project that was on the brink of collapse at the end of Rosenior's managerial experiment.

Of course, whether Alonso's success in Germany translates to England remains to be seen. His time at Leverkusen was special, but Real Madrid also left scars on him. However, the Bernabéu is clearly not a place where a manager can flourish. Álvaro Arbeloa, who took over the team last season after Alonso was sacked by Real Madrid and now replaces Marco Silva at Fulham, is also an unproven figure.

Nevertheless, optimism persists throughout Chelsea. Can they challenge for the title for the first time in a decade? Chelsea finished 10th last season, and they have a long way to go to catch the teams above them. The team's weaknesses remain, particularly at goalkeeper, so challenging for a top-four finish seems more realistic.

However, the absence of European competition may be a blessing, allowing Alonso more training time. He appears tactically flexible. Chelsea switched between four-back and three-back formations during pre-season. Cucurella has joined Real Madrid, but Marc Guéhi, signed from Crystal Palace for £43 million, and Enzo Fernández—wait, let me reconsider. Based on context, the players mentioned should be: Reece James has recovered, and new signings like those from Atalanta and Rayo Vallecano can play as wing-backs.

Chelsea's transfer targets are clear. After years of buying young players with potential, Chelsea now targets players who can make an immediate impact. The recruitment of 26-year-old French centre-back Levi Colwill from Brighton is a solid acquisition. Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £67.5 million; he can play in several attacking midfield positions and is expected to form a promising partnership with Palmer, who has had adequate rest. Palmer was previously omitted from England's World Cup squad and is now motivated to prove himself.

Chelsea has talent, and always has. The real issue is the team's mentality. Having experienced players around to support young players is standard practice in football. Chelsea previously went to the other extreme, and addressing this is one of Alonso's first priorities.

Perhaps Alonso heard stories about a former manager who had to deal with a player who prioritised a haircut over team meetings. In any case, Chelsea's failure to recruit 33-year-old Granit Xhaka in June does not entirely align with the team's new direction. However, it also highlights Chelsea's desire for stronger leadership. Welbeck joined from Brighton on a free transfer, and Jordan Henderson left Brentford on a free transfer, with both deals allowing Chelsea to achieve this objective.

Both signings could prove invaluable. Chelsea may have overcorrected, even swinging too far in the new direction, but Welbeck and Henderson can still help the team. Welbeck scored 13 league goals for Brighton last season and will provide backup for João Pedro in attack. Henderson's performances at Brentford were equally impressive, and according to reports, whenever Brentford faced problems, staff would turn to Henderson to solve them.

Alonso needs to establish order. Off the pitch, instability remains, with Todd Boehly and Mark Walter considering selling their shares to majority shareholder Clearlake Capital. Chelsea rarely stays calm. Before the transfer window closes, Chelsea needs to sell several players, and Enzo Fernández's future is also under scrutiny, with him preferring to reunite with Enzo Maresca at Manchester City.

There is much talk surrounding Enzo. The midfielder has not hidden his desire to leave, but his frequent public statements when Chelsea is in trouble also highlight the team's declining standards.

Alonso needs leaders and trust. He still has to prove that external expectations are not too high, but his effort to shift Chelsea's mentality is already an encouraging start.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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