Chelsea's new manager Xabi Alonso says the 'scar' from his brief Real Madrid tenure has healed, allowing him to focus on revitalizing the club. The 44-year-old Spaniard managed Madrid for just over seven months before leaving after a Supercopa de España loss to Barcelona, amid rumors of conflicts with players like Vinícius Júnior. 'Luckily there are not too many scars in my career,' Alonso told reporters during Chelsea's preseason tour in Australia. He emphasized learning from both successes and failures at Madrid, particularly in man-management and tactical adaptation.

Alonso is tasked with turning around Chelsea's 2025-26 season, which saw the club finish 10th in the Premier League—a position that excludes them from European competition. Despite this, he expressed optimism, citing the team's recent form and potential for improvement. 'It had to be a lot from here and also from here,' Alonso said, referring to his decision to join Chelsea. The club opens their 2026-27 campaign against Fulham on Aug. 24.