Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says the “scar” from his short tenure at Real Madrid has healed as he turns his focus to the new Premier League season.
Alonso took charge at the Santiago Bernabéu after a successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen, but lasted just over seven months before leaving in January after losing to Barcelona in the Supercopa de España final.
”Luckily there are not too many scars in my career,” Alonso told reporters at the start of Chelsea’s preseason tour in Australia.
”So, OK, I got a scar, but this heals. Now it is healed, and I am very motivated and determined to enjoy this next step as I did when I started in Madrid.
”Looking back, I take the positives and the things that didn’t work. I have been very critical of myself, thinking about what I could have done better because it did not go as expected.”
Alonso takes over a Chelsea side that finished 10th in the 2025-26 Premier League and will not play in Europe this season.
”It had to be a lot from here and also from here,” Alonso said, pointing to his head and his gut, on his decision to join Chelsea.
”I saw it was good timing from the club, good timing for myself, a good opportunity.
”It is a team that has played really well recently and the situation was not as bad as it looked at the end of last season. There is a big potential to improve.”
Chelsea begin their Premier League season away to Fulham on Aug. 24.
Alonso Says Real Madrid “Scar” Has Healed As He Focuses On Chelsea Job
