Three matches into his Chelsea reign, Xabi Alonso is already turning heads. Although Chelsea have leaked five goals in their first two Premier League outings, the Spaniard has guided his new side to three straight victories. Chelsea opened the league campaign with a 3-2 win at Fulham, then followed up with a 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Luton Town, before edging Brighton and Hove Albion 4-3 at Stamford Bridge. Alonso, who previously managed Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid, will surely want tighter defending going forward, but three wins from three is nonetheless an encouraging opening chapter in England.
Xabi Alonso Chelsea Numbers Rank Among the Best
According to statistics shared by OptaJoe, Alonso has become just the fourth manager in Premier League history whose team has scored seven or more goals across its first two league matches, and that tally does not even include the goals against Luton in the League Cup. Bobby Robson achieved the feat with Newcastle United in 1999, Michael Laudrup did so with Swansea City in 2012, and Marcelo Bielsa matched it with Leeds United in 2020. Consequently, Alonso now sits alongside some genuinely elite company, which has eased the doubts that followed his surprising move to Chelsea after leaving Real Madrid.
Xabi Alonso Chelsea Rise Contrasts With Arbeloa’s Fulham Struggles
After steering Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2023/24, Alonso became one of the most sought after coaches in Europe, with even Bayern Munich reportedly interested once Thomas Tuchel’s exit became likely. Nevertheless, Alonso chose to remain at Leverkusen for another season before eventually succeeding Alvaro Arbeloa at Real Madrid. Interestingly, the two Spaniards are not currently rivals in the Premier League, since Arbeloa now manages Fulham. However, his start has proven far bumpier than Alonso’s, as Fulham lost both of their opening league matches, first to Alonso’s Chelsea and then to Sunderland.
