Xabi Alonso opens up on 'scar' of Real Madrid exit as he says Chelsea situation 'not as bad as it looked' last season
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Published 02/08/2026 at 20:06 GMT+1
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Xabi Alonso says his short spell as Real Madrid head coach left a scar but the new Chelsea boss believes the experience can become a valuable part of his evolution as a coach. The former midfielder left the Spanish giants by mutual consent in January.
Alonso unveiled as Chelsea boss at first press conference - 'We are starting from zero'
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Alonso lasted just over seven months in the Real Madrid hot seat before he was dismissed.
Speaking on Chelsea's pre-season tour, the former Liverpool midfielder accepted that the experience tested him, but insists he has learned from the challenges he faced at one of football's most demanding clubs.
"Luckily, there are not too many scars in my career," he said of his abrupt Madrid exit.
"I got a scar, now it is healed, and I am very motivated and determined to enjoy this next step as I did when I started in Madrid.
"Looking back, I take the positives and the things that didn't work. I have been very critical of myself, thinking about what I could have done better because it did not go as expected.
"[In terms of positives] there are many experiences, the adaptation I had to do, some things that worked and some things that did not in terms of the game, in terms of the man-management. It is a mixture of everything."
The setback at the Bernabeu represented a rare difficult chapter for Alonso, whose managerial journey had previously been defined by rapid progress and remarkable success.
After beginning in youth football, Alonso built his reputation patiently before taking charge of Bayer Leverkusen and delivering one of the greatest achievements in the club's history.
In 2024, he guided Leverkusen to an unprecedented domestic double, securing their first Bundesliga title and first DFB-Pokal triumph since 1993.
Alonso described that achievement as "unexpectedly fantastic" but the move to Madrid brought a different level of pressure. Managing a club where expectations are measured only in trophies presented a new challenge, one that ultimately ended earlier than he had hoped.
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Alonso lasted eight months into a three-year deal at Madrid
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Rather than allowing the disappointment to define him, Alonso used his short time away from management to reflect and prepare for his next opportunity. The Chelsea job arrived after a period in which he focused on rebuilding his energy and assessing the right next step.
In the months between Madrid and Stamford Bridge, Alonso used the time to "reset energy", and the early signs at Chelsea suggest a coach determined to embrace the challenge with renewed enthusiasm.
Chelsea's rebuild is already gathering momentum, with the club continuing to reshape Alonso's squad around his tactical vision.
That process continued on Sunday with the completion of the signing of Argentina international Valentin Barco from Strasbourg, adding another versatile option to the coach's plans.
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'We are happy for him' - Alonso welcomes Mudryk back to Chelsea squad
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Alonso has brought the same technical detail and intensity that characterised his playing career with the 44-year-old regularly getting involved in training sessions and demonstrating the passing ability that defined his time at Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
The decision to join Chelsea came after careful consideration, with the former Spain international holding meetings in London and San Sebastian before committing to the project.
"I had a view of Chelsea from the outside," he explained.
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'Massive pedigree' - McFarlane 'excited' to work with Alonso
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"I could see the positives and my concerns, so I addressed them. We had the same ideas, the same analysis, to start building momentum together. That is why we are taking these steps together and making decisions to build a good team."
Chelsea's recruitment strategy has been designed to support Alonso's vision, combining emerging talent with players capable of providing greater experience and leadership. Barco's arrival forms part of that wider attempt to create a squad with technical quality, depth and a clear identity.
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The Spaniard believes there is significant room for improvement despite Chelsea's disappointing finish last season.
"The situation was not as bad as it looked at the end of last season," he continued. "There is big potential to improve and let's see how long it takes."
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Valentin Barco has signed a seven-year contract at Chelsea
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The Real Madrid chapter may have left its mark, but Alonso now views it as part of the journey rather than a defining failure.
At Chelsea, he has the opportunity to turn those lessons into the foundation of his next success - with the arrivals of Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, Geovany Quenda, Danny Welbeck and Barco representing another step in building the team he believes can deliver it.
One month into his new role, Alonso is encouraged by the direction of the project, but he knows the real test will come when competitive matches begin.
His motivation comes from a belief that Chelsea represents the right challenge at the right moment in his career.
"For sure, it had to come a lot from here," he said, pointing first to his heart and then to his head.
"And also from here," he added, pointing to his stomach. "It has to come from the gut. I felt it was good timing for the club and good timing for myself. It was a good opportunity and I felt I had the chance to enjoy being a manager."
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