London: Xabi Alonso has had enough of the international break.
Sitting in a blacked out studio at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground his eyes dart to his football communications boss when he admits this.
Xabi Alonso. Stan Sport
“The break was too long for us, for the coaches … the international players were in their international teams, and it was a different dynamic,” he tells nine.com.au and Stan Sport.
“We were missing them, and now we have them back and need to prepare for Bournemouth.”
The Chelsea manager says he didn’t watch much international football.
He split his time over the two-week break in London and at home in Spain, Basque country specifically.
In terms of his appearance, Alonso looks like he could still play. He’s still in shape and there are no signs his retirement from playing has led to many days off with his fitness.
If there is time to be spent outside football, Alonso can be found on the golf course.
His sporting life is 95 per cent football and five per cent golf.
That’s how he spent his time in Australia when Chelsea was on its pre-season tour.
“It was the first time for me in Australia, I really enjoyed it,” he says.
“It was a great experience to play in Sydney, connect with other people around the city and country. It was good that it wasn’t that hot, it was warmer in Europe. It was a great trip.
“There was a bit of sightseeing in Sydney, some guys went to Bondi Beach, some of us played a bit of golf.”
When asked his handicap, Alonso takes a brief step away from the serious and direct persona and laughs.
“Not good enough,” he smiles and repeats twice.
On the pre-season tour, Alonso had his first look at the Australian-born prodigy Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli.
Mathys Tel of Tottenham Hotspur and Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli of Chelsea FC contest for the ball in the pre-season. Ayush Kumar
The 16-year-old left Australia at a young age, and it’s unlikely we’ll see him in a Socceroos jersey. He was already made appearances for England’s under 17s team.
Nicoll-Jazuli featured on the pitch during the club’s time in Sydney and made his Premier League debut against Brentford in the club’s 3-0 loss before the international break. He broke the record as Chelsea’s youngest-ever player in the Premier League era.
The one word Alonso repeatedly uses to describe Nicoll-Jazuli is “energy”.
“He’s young … he’s been training with us since the pre-season, and he’s taking a step forward,” he says.
“When we’re missing players that’s when the opportunities come for the young players … we need to help him, he’s so young, he’s just 16 but I think he’ll be a great player for the future.”
As the follow-up question is posed around the teenager’s confidence, Alonso is quick in his response.
“Mahdi has confidence, he has confidence. He has energy and confidence, that’s not in doubt, he feels he’s ready and we need that,” he smiles.
“But now we have more players back and hopefully regularity in the squad in availability and that will help to be more consistent.”
Alonso is alluding to injuries.
His start at Chelsea was bright with two wins against Fulham and Brighton. The attack looked unbelievable with new signing Morgan Rogers combining nicely alongside Cole Palmer.
Since then, there’s been a fall. An expected 2-1 loss to Arsenal followed before a 2-2 draw against Hull and a big 3-0 loss to Brentford.
Injuries have been part of that dip in form.
Joao Pedro pulled out of the Brazil squad and Cole Palmer did the same for England. Reece James has a hamstring issue and Moises Caicedo has been troubled by a calf problem.
Cole Palmer of Chelsea celebrates scoring. Getty Images
There were problems for Chelsea before the injuries too with defence a big concern. In pre-season they conceded four goals against Western Sydney Wanderers and two at Craven Cottage in the first match of the season against Fulham.
Emi Martinez was swiftly brought in as goalkeeper from Aston Villa after Robert Sánchez’s struggles against Fulham.
The Argentinian star’s arrival hasn’t stemmed the flow of goals.
Alonso doesn’t put these problems solely down to defence.
“We have some positives and things that can be better, not just in terms of results but in terms of the game and especially conceding goals, it’s an area that we want to improve, but it’s just not defence it’s the attack as well,” he says.
“The way we attack helps with the defence, so everything is related, there are many parts that we are still developing, there are positives and negatives in this process to become more consistent and more competitive.”
Alonso’s journey to the role of Chelsea manager hasn’t been simple.
He coached Real Madrid’s under 14s side after retiring, before taking control of Real Sociedad B who were in the third tier of Spanish football. In his second season he had them promoted to the second division.
In 2022 he made the famous move to Bayer Leverkusen where he won the club’s first Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 season. That season they only conceded 24 goals, with Vfb Stuttgart and RB Leipzig the next best for goals conceded on 39.
In his final season, when Bayern returned to champion status, they conceded 43 but were still second best for goals against.
From there he went to Real Madrid where a reported falling out with the playing group ended his reign early.
He was quickly snapped up by Chelsea before his old club Liverpool could pounce.
His arrival in the Premier League makes for an impressive list of managers from Basque Country. The other names are Unai Emery, Andoni Iraola and Mikel Arteta.
Iraola, Arteta and Alonso all played in their youth at Antiguoko Kirol Elkartea in San Sebastian.
Arteta has previously been asked why there’s such a strong Basque presence in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta. Getty Images
“Go to San Sebastian, come back and then ask me the question,” he said back in 2024.
“It’s probably the passion, the food and the education we all had. It is probably about opportunities, and someone has to believe in you.”
The area is part of Alonso’s journey where he grew up with a father, Periko, who played and managed in Basque Country.
Despite being managed by the world’s best in Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez, it’s Alonso’s father who was integral to his rise as a player and manager.
“He was a football player and coach and I saw it at home so he was the biggest influence,” he says.
“The approach he had to the team, to the job, what it takes to be a player and a manager, this is for me the biggest influence.”
In matches and training sessions, Alonso sees more of his habits being influenced by the managers he had. But how to approach the profession and balance his life comes down solely to his father.
The 44-year-old doesn’t shy away from learning from other coaches in different sports either.
He swapped jerseys with Wallabies coach Les Kiss when in Sydney and shared a brief interaction.
Les Kiss and Xabi Alonso. Wallabies
“When I have the chance yes (I talk to other managers), there are common things about making decisions and managing a group and getting the best out of them,” he said.
“I am always curious to ask how they prepare and approach (their matches) … it always helps to learn.”