EXCLUSIVE! Jamie Carragher reunites with Xabi Alonso | Boss | Episode 2
Jamie Carragher interviews Xabi Alonso on the Chelsea project, the Premier League and coaching
Jamie Carragher interviews Xabi Alonso at Chelsea’s training ground about why he chose Chelsea, the club’s medium-term aims and the differences between English and other European football. Alonso stresses that the project needs time, that a manager should be involved in major decisions, and reflects on Spanish youth development, player adaptation and his own coaching ideas. The conclusion is that Chelsea should aim to return to and compete in the Champions League, but must build patiently and adapt to the players available.
- Chelsea was the right move because the timing was right and there is a project worth building together, not something that will be finished in one year — After Leverkusen and Real Madrid he wanted a good connection and feeling. He saw a strong squad base, signings of different profiles and alignment on key decisions.
- At Chelsea he can be part of the major decisions and has good communication with the owners and sporting director, which makes him willing to take responsibility — Once inside he got to know the people and their analysis. He wanted a big role in important decisions, with everyone connected whether results go well or badly.
- Chelsea’s history of changing managers is not something to worry about; a shared plan and the right process matter as much as results — He knows football demands results, but felt everyone was in the same boat with a clear direction. After only seven games he is “zero worried”.
- Returning to and competing in the Champions League is a reasonable medium- to long-term aim for Chelsea, but it would be foolish to expect it immediately — It will take time and many correct decisions, and not every decision will be right. The club has recent Champions League and Premier League success, but time will tell.
- A young foreign player must earn the dressing room’s respect on the pitch, otherwise adaptation can be very difficult — He arrived from La Liga at 21 or 22 and had to win his place among established players such as Carragher and Gerrard. After a strong performance against Norwich, people began to accept him.
- The gap between the top Premier League clubs and the rest is smaller than it was 20 years ago, and players and game plans are now much more complete and sophisticated — He rarely sees players who are not fit or prepared physically and tactically; squads are complete and coaches must prepare for every detail.
- Pressing a team into going long is no longer enough in the Premier League because all teams now have solutions and well-drilled patterns — In the past non-top teams would often play long under pressure. Now coaches must identify trigger points and weaknesses, because every team is more complete and sophisticated.
- Spain’s success comes from about 20 years of long-term academy and collective development rather than a short-term trick; England are close to a major breakthrough but still need the final step — Spanish players often play together from 17 or 18 and develop connections; clubs focus on young players. England have reached finals and semi-finals and have top players.
- England struggle to produce controlling midfielders partly because such control is very hard in the Premier League, while Spanish academies emphasise the collective and quick thinking — Spanish players may not be the quickest but must think quickly; game intelligence comes from training and habits. Rodri is not the fastest but is the smartest and is one step ahead.
- The first thing for a coach is to know whether he enjoys being with the group and handling people, rather than starting with a fixed formation — He had never done the job, so the key was how he felt with a group, how he spoke to it and whether he could handle the stress of decisions. If you enjoy it, you can take the job naturally.
► Subscribe to Sky Sports Premier League: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsPL ► Watch Sky Sports with NOW: https://bit.ly/NOWPremierLeagueYT In the second episode of the series, Jamie Carragher sits down with former teammate and Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso to discuss his start to life at the Blues, the difference between managing in England and elsewhere in Europe, and reflect on their experience playing together at Liverpool. premierleague football Chelsea 00:00 - Why did Xabi choose Chelsea? 04:50 - What is the vision for the club? 08:00 - First meeting between Carra and Xabi 13:00 - Xabi's style of play 19:30 - Managerial impacts from different managers 25:00 - What Xabi wants to achieve at Chelsea 28:50 - Why did Xabi go to manage in the Bundesliga? 31:00 - MNF analysis of Chelsea ► Premier League highlights: https://bit.ly/PL2627HL ► MNF, FNF, SNF & Super Sunday analysis: https://bit.ly/SkyMatchAnalysis ► Gary Neville Podcast: https://bit.ly/GaryNevillePodcast ► Saturday Social: https://bit.ly/SkySaturdaySocial ► Buy this season’s shirts: https://bit.ly/SkySportsShop More from Sky Sports on YouTube: ► Sky Sports: http://bit.ly/SkySportsSub ► Sky Sports Boxing: http://bit.ly/SSBoxingSub ► Sky Sports Cricket: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyCricket ► Sky Sports Darts: https://bit.ly/SubSkySportsDarts ► Sky Sports Football: http://bit.ly/SSFootballSub ► Sky Sports F1: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyF1 ► Sky Sports Golf: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsGolf ► Sky Sports News: http://bit.ly/SkySportsNewsSub ► Sky Sports Retro: http://bit.ly/SkySportsRetroSub ► Sky Sports WSL: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsWSL ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkySportsFootball ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skysportsfootball ► TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skysportsfootball ► X: https://x.com/SkySportsPL ► Website: https://www.skysports.com ► To enquire about licensing Sky Sports content, you can find out more here…
Transcript
Every Premier League manager has a different story and in this new series boss I'm going to come face to face with some of them. Today I'm at Cobb Chelsea's training ground where I'm going to interview my old mate Shabi Alonso the pass. >> How are we? >> How are you? >> I'm good mate. >> Good to see you. >> Good to see you mate. How are you? So we're uh we're at Chelsea training ground now and uh not many clubs have a cottage so we're going to go in in the kitchen. have a cup of tea. So, Shabby, we're in the uh the cottage of Chelsea. Not many clubs have the the cottage. You want to make a cup of tea >> because uh >> you haven't >> This is prepar many >> for many years. >> No, but you're I'm I'm older than you. >> Yeah. >> But you're the boss >> and and this series is called Boss. >> So, you'll get a cup of tea from me. We'll have a little chat in here about all about Chelsea. Hang on. I haven't fully done that. >> That'll be your teammate. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. Good works. We'll get to that. >> Good works. >> Right. >> So, we're here at Chelsea. You've just finished the, you know, the training session for the uh for the upcoming days this week. First of all, why Chelsea? What was the decision to come to Chelsea? There's no obviously no link there as a player. You had that with Madrid, >> Liverpool, other clubs. What was it? >> It was about the timing. I think that for me it was the right timing. After Leusen, after Madrid, I had my time off and I wanted to choose to have a good connection, a good feeling about where to go and I knew Chelsea. I I had no link, but what I heard I what they had the potential was here. few things could change and I and I thought that we could start the journey together because you know h I had the feeling that a very strong base of the squad was very good with some updates or some improvement new signings of different profiles we could have a solid team and it was going to be a project it's not that in year one you it's already done we know that it's it's going to might take some more years, but the first year it's important and here we are just starting. But so far the uh the feeling that we could uh be aligned taking decisions that we were on the same page, it was going to be important. >> There was a lot of noise in England about the the ownership, sporting directors, lots of people involved in Chelsea. Was that something that you thought about when coming into the initial talks? And is that completely different now that you're in the building? >> Yeah, for sure. From outside I had the the the view what what you read what you see about the team but then you you get to know the people you get to know what their analysis the things that they have done the things that they thought that could be done better and no it's not that good >> and and and and where we were or where we wanted to to to take the club and and knowing that in many processes many decision I will going to be part of it. It's not that this is what you have. No, no. This is what we have. This is what we want to improve and to to have a very uh big part of the important decisions was was important. But in there there's the ownership, the sport director and myself. But we are always connected and we have good communication. That's that's basic to to take responsibility. Things after can go well cannot go well because this is football. But at the end you want to feel feel part of it. >> They've gone through a succession of managers, haven't they, since they've come in the new ownership. And was not was that something of a worry on the back of what happened at, you know, Real Madrid only being there a few months and you wanted to get your, you know, your managerial career back up and running. Was that was that something you thought about? No, it was not a worry because I know what you need to get results. But I had as well the the commitment the feeling that we were on the same boat knowing that we knew that where we want to be in few next year or in in two years that will take time and this is a process about building things the right way and that's why the the first phase what we have improved of the team I think this had been good it's just seven games but we want we have a clear direction what we want and I'm zero worried about this this is football you need to get the results but I think that uh to have the feeling that we are doing the things the right way and that we have a plan, a common plan. This is this is for me as important as the results. >> I'm sure that plan involves within the Premier League, getting back into the Champions League, competing for the Champions League. You know, this is a huge football club, you know, world champions a couple of years ago, obviously won the Champions League >> as well a couple of times as well. Is that the vision? That's the plan over the next two or three years. uh in the medium long term yes but we need we know that uh that takes that takes time that takes uh many right decisions we won't take all the decisions right some of them won't be wrong but I think that that being uh for me being feeling that being part of it and being involved in all the decision in the key ones it's as important as the rest and and yes this is the ambition of the club this club has on Champions League uh Premier Leagues not so long ago and we want to be back there but we are not stupid to think oh this has to come right now time will tell when when that can come >> you call the manager not the coach does it make any difference >> well uh for me it's not a big difference but for you guys it makes big difference because as I as I understood for me the the the coach mana has to be involved in in the sporting decisions and and that's what where what I want what I wanted to feel part of it that that we took the decisions together but I had a a real voice in this in this decision making part and and so far so good so things are are where we are now is uh where we wanted to be with nothing goes that you all the all the signings or all all the things you want to happen but more or less we are we are quite okay >> do do you think in England we don't understand this model enough because you've come from Spain as a player but even when you managed in Germany it's quite high profile who that sport director is >> obviously of course at Real Madrid as well is it does it work any differently in England or certainly at Chelsea right now than what your experience is before >> uh for example my experience in in Germany it's different from my experience in in Spain and now in in Germany you you you work very close with the with the sports director but every day that's very different from England for example I I had that relation with Simon Rol that he was every day in the in the office with me but not to you need to do these things is was about to chat about what was the the momentum of one player or this player is in is in a bad mood or is we have had these talks normal things and at the end this this close relation made us a very good tandem with with Simon and uh and it worked really well. And here in in in Chelsea, the Sam, Paul, Joe, they are really close to the to the team as well. And it's it's pretty similar. >> Okay. >> So, you want to try? >> Yeah. Sit down. >> Come on. >> Is it a good cup of tea? >> It's okay. >> It's okay. >> Which side's who? >> I'm there. Shabby, I want to go back to the beginning the first time we met and uh you know you joined Liverpool and it was it was obvious to me you were going to be somebody who stayed in football. You know your your dad was a player, you had that background, but I always remember the first time Rafa spoke to uh spoke to me about you and you came after a few games of the season. You didn't come at the start of the season. >> No, no, no. Was your first game Bolton? was wor but uh the week before we were in talks. Yeah. >> But I wasn't there. And you were playing against Spurs. >> Yes. That was the first Yeah, >> that was probably the first game. >> Yes, that was the first game. >> That was the first game. >> And then I think it was Man City at home was the next game. >> I don't remember the second one. But definitely I was watching Yes. >> Spurs game away >> and I I was talking with Rafa. >> Yeah. and Rafa. >> No, let's let's see the game and let's let's talk after what you think about it. >> And I >> I remember Rafa said, "Oh, we got this player from Alono." And I didn't know Rafa too well. He'd only been there six, eight weeks. >> And you didn't know me neither. >> I didn't know you. No. And I'm What was I would be 26 then? You were 21 22. >> 21 22. Yeah. >> And he said, "We got this amazing player coming. He's he's a real thinker. He understands football. He's already telling telling me where we can get better." And I was thinking, who the does he think he is? this line from Spain telling Liverpool where they're going. Right. So, I was aware you were watching you were analyzing at an uh at a young age. So, you're always going to go on and be >> I would say a coach or a manager, but what what was your what was your thoughts when you you came in about me because we we got a connection really early because we were both big >> lovers of football. >> Yeah. Yeah. I because I remember not many English players used to watch La Liva. >> Yes. So you were one of the ones that you you were watching La Liga Barca Madrid of course but Atletico or Launa's team. >> So yeah. So we could we I think that we we use that not excuse but those uh those games of La Liga to talk more about football and I knew that we started getting to know each other and you were football mad and I was football mad and I I I used to watch a great but I remember as well you need to earn the respect of the guys that you were there. So you need to to have a proper impact on the on the caras on the steis on the that hammers some hippas. So I say okay I need to I need to earn my my place. I need to earn my respect there and happily it didn't took so long. It didn't took long as as it can happen coming from from a from ratad being 21 the adaptation can be long but it was quite quick. I remember as well one of my first games after Bolton. Bolton was proper with with Samardai with car speed. She he tackled me and say welcome to the Premier League. I remember. >> Yeah. But one of her first game was against Norwich at home and we won 3-0 easy but and I played really really I played a very good game and then people starts respecting you and say okay he he can play and and little by little you start making your your own uh your own things in in the club and you get the respect of of the of the established and local players and that was very important because if not the adaptation can you can struggle at the You're managing now in the Premier League. What would you say the big differences are between when you came to the Premier League as a player to what you see now as a manager? >> Uh I would say that the gap between the top clubs and the the rest before in in the 20 years ago it was much bigger than it is is actually as well. The the players they are more complete. They are you hardly see a a a player that is not so fit or not so prepared physically tactically and as well the the game plans they are really sophisticated nowadays you know that you need to to be prepared for one move for the rest what you're going to say halftime what might you prepare I'm still getting into the the tempo of the Premier League you know because for me it has been it's been a change but you I I try to adapt and to learn as quick as possible but you see that now it's really sophisticated. Even the the the squads are so complete in the in the teams. But something has not changed. The energy that is created in the stadiums for me it feels the same. And the noise I was we were playing in in against Everton >> and the noise that and the energy that is created in the stadiums that has not changed and for me it's very different the very different the noise or the sounds of of the Premier League to the sounds of the Bundesliga or to Spain is very different. So that's >> that my first game in Fuland that we play in the Premier League. I say yes this this smells to the Premier League. M you mentioned about sort of still getting up to speed with the Premier League. Is that you're talking about the actual style of play or the managers you're coming up against sort of tactically because I think one of the big differences I think about when I was a player was a lot of teams were organized defensively. We had an organization. We had a shape. It feels like the organization with teams with the ball now is on a completely different level to when I played our plan was get the ball to Alonso, get the ball to Stevie Gerard. Is is there so much now going on for managers tactically from the side of the pitch and constant changes and substitutions? >> Yeah, before probably the you knew the top teams they could play but the rest of the teams you knew that if you were going to press a little bit even with one less player normally they will play long and you will have to be ready for the second one. Now that's not enough. Now you need to prepare what's what is going to be the trigger point from what side they can have more weakness. they they find solutions to that. So they all the teams they are much more complete and the the game is much more sophisticated in a in in the time that it has developed a lot and and the whole things they have solutions and they have uh very good patterns. Well, you had an amazing career. We know that. And uh probably culminating in uh winning the World Cup. And I always tell this story when I talk about you and you remember phoning me drunk. >> Well deserved. >> Yes. >> I I never believed Spain could win. >> But that was after the Euro. >> Was that the Euro? >> It was the Euro. Yeah. >> Oh, okay. So the Euro 2008 >> 2008. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I believe Spain could win a tournament. >> I was still in Liverpool. Yeah. >> You are you are not going to win. >> You can run. You can run. You can win. You can't run. Okay. Okay. So So because you were here pan I remember okay this is now is my moment with car >> and then you went and dominated world football for the next three tournaments after uh >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. and many resemblance what they are doing now this team of Spain >> the way they play the way they they compete the way they behave as well many similarities I would say to to that time with for us to Spain and and they are a joy to watch to be to be honest and and for me it was a privilege to be part of that team it was >> we had a great team great spirit top players you look back and you see wow That was our team. >> Everyone's sort of sort of obsessed now with probably Spanish football and rightly so. You think of Spanish coaches in the Premier League, the players you're producing now, winning so many tournaments at the top level, at junior level. Any insight? Is it is there a certain methodology? >> Yes, there is a big methodology, but it has been built for for 20 years. It's not something that it has been year built in in two years. I think that for example Luis de Laente he's been part of the job teams of of the national teams during a lot of time he knows them very well and and the way these players they have played together for a long time and when they were 17 18 they were already playing together and they they they became >> elite players but uh playing together and now they they they have this connection you see that uh that they are so dominant on their on their how they play and this has a lot to do how they work a lot of clubs. I'm from Rajidat and the way they work there it's it's very they put a lot of focus on the on the young players and they give the the potential but I have to be honest here in Chelsea they work really well I'm really impressed with some of the young players we have and as well I see the the English team they are getting there with Thomas they they go to the final they go to the semis so uh this England team is is is getting closer and and you see the players >> and they are very very good players. So I don't know it's it has to be lack or it has to be like they still need to take the next step to develop to to be winning something but they are not that far. They have top top players. Can I ask you about your position as a player? And the reason I'm using that as an example is I think of Rodri now >> almost like a sitting midfield player who's running the game from there and he was a Bondor winner now seen as the best midfielder in the world. Similar position to you type of player. Uh and you you produce a lot of those players. That's a certain type of player for some reason in this country we don't seem to produce. And when you're talking about England making the next step, the thing we probably lack is controlling big games at vital moments. >> You've been in England as a player. You're here as a as a as a manager. What is the reason why maybe we don't produce those type >> is is to reach such control in the Premier League is very difficult. I think that you have to be top top team, top top players that they are able to control the game in such manner that to to be so dominant >> and and sure in Spain that's but that's because in in the academy as well they they work a lot about the the collective side. We are not the quickest. We can run that much but we need to think quick and the players they need to think quick and that's why de they develop this game intelligence the awareness. Rodri for example, he's one step ahead. He's one meter ahead. How how you work that? Because of training, because habits and the the way he he's able to be more competit ahead. He was the quickest. No, but he was the the smartest on on the pitch. And that's a a pattern that is repeated in Spain because because of the collective purpose of the of the development of the of the teams what what I do but what the team needs and uh and there are many there are few examples and and when you get one of us you say okay I have I have a damo here I need to I need to develop and work with it. So thinking about you, so at Liverpool you're managed by Rafa Bonitez. You then move to Madrid, you have Ancelotti, you have Jos, you have Pep. You probably nobody has had the managers that you've you've had. Can you give us a little insight into the differences between those managers, what you took from them? Who was the manager who you felt like that's the manager I want to be? Well, it's each one was really important at my stage of my career. For example, being 21 22 getting to Liverpool if I will have maybe with Ancelotti is different when I got to Ancelotti when I was 30 in Madrid. >> At that time, I needed a lot of tactical input. I need I need a lot of explanation a lot of uh you need you you will face this uh this team they they will do that. So to to get this advantage and and Rafa was very good at that and and to get in uh competitive teams uh working as a team and and help me help me a lot in in the five years that we were together in in Liverpool. And after I became more mature as a as a player, I went then to to Madrid and Jose. I was with Telegrin and with Jose mainly with with Jos and with Angelotti, but that's about competing. That's about your mentality. So I was a good player, but uh well I had we had one things that I could get better. I was it was about competing, about winning mentality, about being being tougher and and I I I I got more mature in in Madrid. And my last spell in Munich, it was it was like after the university degree, you want to have a master, >> you want to finish the master. And I went with PEP and because I was so curious about what why they play so good, why why I need I I I would love to try to to to be inside. So I think that that last stage of my career in Munich made my transition t