{"id":7458,"date":"2026-10-15T06:32:41","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T06:32:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=7458"},"modified":"2026-10-15T06:32:41","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T06:32:41","slug":"chelsea-insiders-share-what-xabi-alonso-was-doing-in-his-office-during-international-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=7458","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea insiders share what Xabi Alonso was doing in his office during international break"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-388143\">\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow is-native contentpass\"> <a class=\"fw\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=thechelseachronicle.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add to Preferred Sources<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Chelsea may not have had any games for three weeks, but Xabi Alonso was still a very busy man during the international break.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There was a lot of work for the 44-year-old to do. Just before his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/club\/\">Chelsea<\/a> players jetted off to various parts of the world, they lost 3-0 to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-grvmedia-grv-video GRVMultiVideo\"\/>\n<p>The Blues put in a very poor performance that night. However, they were able to bounce back in style after beating Bournemouth 5-1 last weekend.<\/p>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"5a9c74ee-9dfb-4c17-80a3-f12c2bcadb5e\" data-story-name=\"Talk Chelsea\" data-comment-id=\"60c353f3-698a-4336-be1e-5715d994a391\" data-story-slug=\"talk-chelsea\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<p><h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">How would you compare Chelsea\u2019s sporting directors to their counterparts at other English clubs? Have they really been that bad? \ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-819x1024.png\" alt=\"Winstanley and Stewart for Chelsea\" class=\"wp-image-388164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-912x1140.png 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-600x750.png 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/10\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic.png 1080w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"WROCLAW, POLAND - MAY 28: Chelsea Sporting Directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart hold the UEFA Conference League trophy as they pose for a photo with Todd Boehly, Chairman and Co-owner of Chelsea FC, after their team's victory in the UEFA Conference League Final 2025 between Real Betis Balompie and Chelsea FC at Stadion Wroclaw on May 28, 2025 in Wroclaw, Poland. (Photo by Darren Walsh\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)\">Photo by Darren Walsh\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-xabi-alonso-s-office-work-involved-tactical-analysis-and-preparation\">Xabi Alonso\u2019s office work involved tactical analysis and preparation<\/h2>\n<p>During the international break, when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/tag\/xabi-alonso\/\">Alonso<\/a> was not on the training pitch at Cobham, he spent time in his office. There, he had the chance to look back at the games Chelsea have played so far.<\/p>\n<p>Insiders have told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/football\/articles\/ckwy4nj4842qo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">BBC Sport<\/a> that, as well as his office work involving tactical analysis of previous matches, it also included preparation for future opponents. Chelsea have a very tough game coming up, as they face David Moyes\u2019 Everton, who currently sit fifth in the Premier League table.<\/p>\n<p>In the same fixture last season, Chelsea lost 3-0, so it could be a difficult afternoon at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. To make matters worse, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/news\/joao-pedros-record-vs-everton-is-a-real-surprise-ahead-of-chelseas-trip-to-merseyside\/\">Joao Pedro has never scored against Everton<\/a> in his career.<\/p>\n<p>If the Brazilian blanks again, Chelsea still have Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, who are more than capable of making an impact against the Toffees. Rogers has been on fire this season, scoring his fourth Premier League goal in six appearances last Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>If the England international and the rest of Chelsea\u2019s attack show up, it could be a long afternoon for Everton.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-international-break-benefited-chelsea\">International break benefited Chelsea<\/h2>\n<p>Whatever work Alonso did during the international break, it worked! Chelsea had a bit of a dip before club football took a pause.<\/p>\n<p>As well as losing to Brentford, they also drew 2-2 with Hull City and were beaten 2-1 by Arsenal in the games before their west London derby. However, they have now managed to end that winless streak and looked so much better against Bournemouth.<\/p>\n<p>By this point, everyone knows Chelsea can score goals. But last weekend, what they showed is that they can defend with Moises Caicedo in the team.<\/p>\n<p>Defensively, the Blues were much better as the Ecuadorian returned to the starting XI. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/columnist\/xabi-alonso-must-pay-very-close-attention-to-moises-caicedos-honest-admission\/\">Caicedo admitted that he was tired<\/a> after the game, so Alonso needs to be careful with the 24-year-old, but it is great to have him back!<\/p>\n<div class=\"see-more-wrapper lazy see-more-open see-more-blank extra-content\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/news\/chelsea-insiders-share-what-xabi-alonso-was-doing-in-his-office-during-international-break\/none\" data-type=\"subscribe\">\n<div class=\"see-more subscribe\">\n<figure class=\"newsletter\">\n<div><svg class=\"loading\" width=\"118\" height=\"36\" viewbox=\"0 0 118 36\"><use href=\"#dots-svg\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div class=\"signup\"><span class=\"hf\">Join Our 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