Can Chelsea go from 10th to title again?

Chelsea faces a monumental challenge in their bid for Premier League glory after appointing Xabi Alonso as manager, with the club currently languishing in 10th place, 14 points adrift of leaders Liverpool. The Spanish tactician, who guided Bayer Leverkusen to an unprecedented unbeaten Bundesliga season in 2023-24, inherits a squad that has underperformed significantly despite substantial investment. Alonso's arrival signals Chelsea's intent to replicate their remarkable turnaround from 2014-15, when they climbed from mid-table obscurity to win the title by eight points under José Mourinho's guidance.

The scale of Chelsea's resurrection task cannot be understated, as the Blues have struggled with managerial instability and tactical inconsistency throughout the 2024-25 campaign. Since Todd Boehly's takeover in 2022, Chelsea have cycled through five managers while spending over £1 billion on player acquisitions, including high-profile signings like Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández. Alonso's experience winning silverware across multiple European leagues—including La Liga titles with Real Madrid as a player—provides a foundation for stabilizing the club's direction and implementing a cohesive tactical philosophy that has eluded his predecessors.

Alonso must quickly transform Chelsea's fortunes if they are to mount a credible title challenge, with realistic hopes centered on securing Champions League qualification before considering trophy ambitions. The manager boasts a proven track record of developing young talent and building cohesive units, evidenced by Leverkusen's title-winning campaign featuring integrated academy graduates alongside experienced internationals. With 19 Premier League matches remaining, Chelsea requires immediate improvement across defensive stability and attacking efficiency, areas that have plagued the squad this season and prevented them from competing with the division's elite performers.