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Chelsea expects improvement under Xabi Alonso in 2026-27 season

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 12, 2026, 11:00 AM

Last updated Aug 12, 2026

Chelsea expects improvement under Xabi Alonso in 2026-27 season

Summary

Chelsea anticipates a turnaround in fortunes with the appointment of Xabi Alonso as manager for the 2026-27 Premier League season. The club finished 10th last season and is now aiming for a top-three finish, as indicated by the average predictions of The Guardian writers. Alonso's arrival follows a challenging period of underachievement and upheaval within the team. Chelsea will look to capitalize on this fresh start as they approach the new campaign, focusing on improving their league standings.

Source Links

The Guardian Sport

Key Details

•Chelsea finished 10th in the previous season.
•Xabi Alonso replaces the previous management ahead of the new season.
•The club's predicted position for the upcoming season is 3rd.

Latest Updates

11:00 AMThe Guardian Sport — Premier League 2026-27 preview No 6: Chelsea

What they're saying

"
After a period of underachievement and upheaval for the Blues, the arrival of Xabi Alonso could signal a change in fortunes Guardian writers’ predicted position: 3rd (NB: this is not necessarily Billy Munday’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips) Last season’s position: 10th Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Billy Munday

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