Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink identifies potential ‘problem’ if Chelsea hire Xabi Alonso | Football

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says Chelsea may encounter a ‘problem’ should they hire Xabi Alonso but refuse to ‘give him the keys’ or allow him to lead on ‘football decisions’.

Chelsea’s search for a seventh permanent manager in the space of just five years is ongoing after Liam Rosenior was put out of his misery and relieved of his duties last month.

Rosenior enjoyed a promising start to life in the Stamford Bridge dugout but results spiralled from early February and a wretched run of five straight league defeats – without scoring a single goal – meant his position was deemed untenable.

Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane picked up the pieces from Rosenior’s turbulent 107-day tenure and has done a commendable job, steering the club into this year’s FA Cup final before holding Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield at the weekend.

But a heavy 3-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest served as a stark reminder of Chelsea’s desperate league position – and Stamford Bridge bosses are eager to secure a deal for Rosenior’s permanent successor sooner rather than later.

Since Rosenior’s sacking, a host of high-profile names have been linked, including the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Andoni Iraola, with the latter confirming that this season will be his last at Bournemouth.

Alonso has also emerged as a genuine candidate in recent days and reports on Monday indicated he would be ‘open’ to the prospect of taking charge in west London.

The 44-year-old announced himself as one of the most sought-after coaches in European football at Bayer Leverkusen, but has been out of a job since parting ways with Real Madrid after only eight months in January.

‘I don’t think he did that badly at Real Madrid,’ former Chelsea striker Hasselbaink said of Alonso on Sky Sports News.

‘Obviously what is expected at Real Madrid is being at the top all season but I think he was still within touching distance of Barcelona.

‘The problem is he wants to manage how he wants to manage and he feels that the players have to follow him. Stars are a little bit different, you need the support of the club.

‘I really like that, I like that he has his way, “This is how I see it, you players are going to follow my guidance and this is how I want to play and you’re going to play in a system, you’re going to run”, and if Chelsea chooses him, you have to give him the keys.

‘I’ve always said that whoever you choose, you have to give them the keys and the players need to know that he is the decision-maker.’

Asked if Chelsea’s hierarchy would be prepared to let Alonso be the key decision-maker, Hasselbaink replied: ‘That’s a question for them, but I think that’s the only way it will work.

‘Players need to know that the manager is in charge for football decisions and the moment they know that, they will run harder, they will do their best.

‘So if you’re going to choose Alonso, give him the keys and trust the process. Trust the process and let him lead.’

Hasselbaink has a level of sympathy for Rosenior and feels strongly that the issues at Chelsea run far deeper than whoever happens to find themselves sitting in the dugout.

‘I don’t think Liam Rosenior really was the wrong person,’ he went on.

‘Enzo Maresca also had no credentials, he didn’t have experience, but he was absolutely magnificent. He played a certain way and he was successful.

‘He won the Europa Conference League, he won the Club World Cup, he got them in the Champions League when he left, they were in a good position.

‘What happened in that spell of time when Enzo left and Liam was there? What happened? That’s what we need to find. Why did it go suddenly like that? I cannot only be Liam’s fault.

‘That’s where they really need to have a look at what has gone wrong and we need to make that better for the next manager to come in.

‘Yes, I do agree that I prefer someone with pedigree and who has been there because it’s a big, big club with big, big players. Normally you would associate that job, when it becomes available, with a Thomas Tuchel, a Mauricio Pochettino, a Jose Mourinho, a Carlo Ancelotti, these kind of names.

‘Why are those sort of names not linked anymore? That’s what we have to think about in my opinion.’

Chelsea’s squad have a perfect opportunity to end their immensely disappointing season on a high this weekend when they take to the field against Manchester City at Wembley.

And while they undoubtedly go into the final as the underdogs, Hasselbaink is not ruling out Enzo Fernandez and Co pulling off a big upset.

‘There’s always a chance. You never know, that’s the beauty of football,’ the Dutchman, whose Chelsea side finished runners-up in the FA Cup back in 2002, explained.

‘It looks very tough on paper, it looks very hard. If you would have said to me that Chelsea would get a draw at Liverpool, play actually really well and deserve to win, I would have said, “Really?”, due to the way they’ve been playing of late.

‘So that’s the next step for them. It’s a challenge, it’s going to be difficult, but it’s possible.

‘They went to Manchester City a few months ago and they drew that game, they played the second half exceptionally well.

‘A final is a final, you never know what can happen. It’s a one-off game so there’s everything to play for.’

It’s proven to be Cole Palmer’s most difficult year yet since swapping City for Chelsea back in 2023, with fitness problems making for a stop-start season in which he has missed 12 games in the Premier League alone.

On Palmer’s struggles, Hasselbaink said: ‘He didn’t have a proper pre-season, that’s what it started with, then there were niggling injuries and he hasn’t really been able to get his rhythm going.

‘He’s not been able to get himself playing pain-free and he would be the first one to say that he hasn’t played his best football.

‘But he still attracts players to him when he’s on the pitch and gives free space to other players.

‘I think he needs a good holiday after the World Cup and then from there he can build himself back up.’

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