Chelsea head into the 2026-27 Premier League season with renewed hope after a turbulent campaign that saw them finish 10th under two different head coaches and multiple caretaker spells. The appointment of Xabi Alonso as manager has sparked cautious optimism at Stamford Bridge, with pundits now tipping the club to finish as high as third this term.
Alonso, who left Real Madrid after just six months in charge, arrives with a point to prove but also a strong reputation for developing young talent, having overseen the rise of players like Florian Wirtz during his time at Bayer Leverkusen. Reflecting on his Madrid exit, Alonso said: "I got a scar, now it is healed." Notably, he has been given the title of manager rather than head coach, distinguishing his role from that of his predecessors, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
With no European football to navigate this season, Chelsea's focus will be on securing Champions League qualification through a top-four or top-five finish, while also placing greater emphasis on domestic cup competitions after a trophyless campaign. BlueCo's continued heavy investment, part of a broader £1.8bn outlay in recent years, has strengthened the squad considerably. The club broke the British transfer record to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117m, while Maxence Lacroix has bolstered the defense. Experienced additions Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson, dubbed the