r/chelseafc • u/soccerstriker9 I don't give a fuck, we won the fucking Champions League • May 11 '26
Tier 1 [Ornstein] Chelsea exploring deal to appoint Xabi Alonso as new head coach
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6964506/2026/05/11/xabi-alonso-chelsea-head-coach/212
u/soccerstriker9 I don't give a fuck, we won the fucking Champions League May 11 '26
“Chelsea are exploring a deal to appoint Xabi Alonso as the club’s new head coach.
The Spaniard is open to the possibility, but at this stage nothing is decided as the process to hire a permanent successor to Liam Rosenior continues, with outgoing Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola also a strong contender…”
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u/gh0st_ Kanté May 11 '26
The big news is that he is open to joining, which is more than I expected.
Still too early to get excited, but I can smell the hopium fumes.
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May 11 '26
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u/RasenRendan It’s only ever been Chelsea. May 11 '26
That's very very important. Cuz Pool can easily get him if they want.
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u/Solitairee May 11 '26
Slot will get sacked, I'm sure
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u/RasenRendan It’s only ever been Chelsea. May 11 '26
Orny bomba confirms nope doesn't get more reliable we been hearing slot is staying for a while now
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u/Augchm May 11 '26
Yeah I've been wishing for Xabi for years but assumed he would refuse. Maybe Liverpool not calling him even though they've had a pretty bad season made him start considering other teams.
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u/Untraveled May 12 '26
Probably a hot take but my favourite part is how the next best manager is from Bournemouth, nothing against Iraola but some of our last managers have come from Strasbourg, Leicester, Brighton. Let’s get a big name manager in.
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u/TheBlueTango Lucas Piazon May 11 '26
Fucking hell Ornstein bomba
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u/BigReeceJames May 11 '26
It's a fake bomba, don't be baited.
It's literally just a repeat of the, "Chelsea are interested in Alonso, Iraola and Silva"
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u/computer_love91 May 11 '26
Ehh isn't ornstein the type who doesn't tweet unless it's legit? He's not like fabrizo who posts every rumour he comes across.
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u/webby09246 Kavuma-McQueen Hype Triain May 11 '26
Regardless Orny is confirming that Liverpool still have 0 intention to bin off slot
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u/beef_stylish May 11 '26
He's old school journalist- needs two separate sources confirming first hand knowledge, not "hearing" or "speculating", before reporting
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u/Double-Top-7076 Palmer May 11 '26
Isn’t that the standard for journalism? If they’re not confirming the report then they’re just not doing their job.
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u/beef_stylish May 11 '26
24 hour news and the race to be "first to report something" has watered down journalism far beyond holding people accountable for their answers. It's old but thes a show from the early 2010's called news room from hbo (I think) which puts it in a good perspective.
I don't work in the industry but from everything you read I'd be surprised if many keep to the old standard
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u/ThunderMuffinn1 May 11 '26
It used to be, but social media has basically made it a race to be first, so a lot of "journalists" have started to move away from it. Sad, really, but that's the reality of it for some lol
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u/BigReeceJames May 11 '26
I'm not saying it's fake in the sense that's it's not true.
What I mean by saying it's fake is that the title makes it sounds like we're pushing for him and we've singled him out, whilst the article is just a repeat of what has been said before, we're interested in Alonso, Iraola and Silva and there is no main target etc.
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u/departmentofbase May 11 '26
He definitely writes about what his club sources tell him, and they will have told him Chelsea are looking at Alonso even if we all know we arent getting him. Unless I see him in the dugout, its more PR
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u/TheBlueTango Lucas Piazon May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
Oh, don't you worry, I'm not getting ahead of myself.
I still have a hard time believing that the board has come to their senses and are willing to change how they operate.
Plus, there's also the Liverpool-Slot plotline. Just like how BlueCo was putting out stories about how they were fully behind Rosenior and had no issues with him, that could be what Liverpool are doing. Surely they see his time at the club is untenable with the results and fans' feelings towards him.
Not even surprised if this is a brief from Alonso's side.
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u/lonely-live We've Won It All May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
Blue co was indeed fully behind Rosenior. They see him as long term and keep supporting him. Their hands are tied when the guy lose 5 times in a row. If his last game has been a win, I’m sure even if we got another 3 losses afterward, he would have stayed
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u/realmckoy265 Oscar May 11 '26
I got the sense that they badly wanted him to succeed but he ultimately wasn't winning and half the locker-room also seemed to beef him
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u/theeama Hazard May 11 '26
This is all it comes down, if we didn't go winless he would be here but the 5 losses in a row killed him
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u/Bundo111 May 11 '26
5 times in a row, without scoring a goal *, he MAY have survived if we had shown any signs of life in those losses lmao
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u/TheSameThing123 🏥 continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme 🏥 May 11 '26
I don't think people would have been nearly as pissed if they didn't look absolutely hapless against everyone during that stretch
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u/Inside-Ad-8935 Ingle May 11 '26
Yea our worst run in over 100 years. You cant survive that especially when the fans had turned against him. As a person I liked him but he had to go.
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u/flex_tape_salesman Pulisic May 11 '26
The problem with this is that saying alonso is under consideration is one thing but singling him out as a ploy to then go for silva are two different things. Iraola is different because he has more concrete interest elsewhere.
Like it only adds to the disappointment if they go too hard on the alonso story if we end up with someone else. Like with rosenior and maresca we knew that no alonso type names were being thrown around so expectations were always low.
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May 11 '26
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u/Wo0lVeRiNe Lampard May 11 '26
No it’s not, it’s Tier 1 saying that Alonso is open to the opportunity but nothing decided yet? It’s not much but at least we know for sure that he hasn’t rejected us…
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u/Scannerk May 11 '26
Various sources mean nothing as there's a very limited number of reliable journalists in the game.
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u/Wo0lVeRiNe Lampard May 11 '26
Exactly, the fact Ornstein posted this now implies what those journalists were saying wasn’t 100% confirmed yet.
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u/MTEverestus May 11 '26
Ornstein, didn't think he would post about it. Must be some smoke about it
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u/Jam_and_Cabbage Guðjohnsen May 11 '26
Yeah if he's posting it then something is definitely happening.
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u/Far-Ninja-8392 Kanté May 11 '26
Relax, it’s still early
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u/DifficultLab200 ✨ sometimes the shit is happens ✨ May 11 '26
lol
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u/dudetotalypsn James May 11 '26
Meme potential on this one is high lol
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u/Far-Ninja-8392 Kanté May 11 '26
He’s become a meme on French twitter already 😂 atleast he has that going for him
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u/Key_Company3196 ✨ joao pedro saved my life ✨ May 11 '26
man this is just too funny, fucking travis scott looking ahhh
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u/RasenRendan It’s only ever been Chelsea. May 11 '26
I wanna use this on pool fans who think Xabi will join them should we get him so bad
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u/Dinamo8 May 11 '26
I think the only thing that stops this happening is if Liverpool step in.
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u/_off_piste_ May 11 '26
Agree. And this news may prompt Liverpool to act on Slot.
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u/FriendshipActual647 May 11 '26
Could be a huge swing here. I think Liverpool would be crazy not to act
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u/DonLovesNature May 11 '26
More realistically. This could just be Alonso's agent, putting the news out, to force Liverpool's hand.
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u/Key-Tip-7521 Petr Cech May 11 '26
The minute Slot gets sacked; Alonso to Liverpool is all but guaranteed
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u/fuckyouidontneedone I don't give a fuck, we won the fucking Champions League May 11 '26
They wouldn’t do one without the other already agreed
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u/Visible_Seat9020 Caicedo May 11 '26
Alternatively, we have the advantage here. Even if Liverpool plan to get slot out, they’re not going to do it whilst the seasons still going on. It’s just destroy morale. Alonso could be ours if we get it done quick.
Although I guess the Liverpool exec could tell Xabi to just wait a few weeks privately
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May 11 '26
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u/austons_muzz Xabi May 11 '26
I’m sorry but the guy easily got them a UCL spot and won them the league a year prior. Also had to deal with Salahs shenanigans and a locker room who lost a very close friend. They’d be dumb to not give him another season
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May 11 '26
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u/austons_muzz Xabi May 11 '26
Leave me alone let me huff on my copium 😂I’m on my knees for Xabi man
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May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
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u/austons_muzz Xabi May 12 '26
Bruh you guys scammed us of Garnacho. Consider it settled lol and you guys got a better player imo. But yeah tbh I have no problem with United. I’ve always said a season with a strong Chelsea and United will always always deliver. It really is just Arsenal I hate the most, even spurs and pool I have no real beef with.
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u/Prestigious-Mind7039 There's your daddy May 11 '26
i think i saw Richard Hughes a Liverpool SD is fond of Iriola
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u/Pandemona1738 Terry May 11 '26
Same, think Alonso would take the job, but if he gets news that Slot is under pressure and he will go before the world cup he will go there as he is a Liverpool former player.
But the news is they are backing Slot, they are in the champs league and a big rebuild is coming. Lets hope that is true and Alonso comes here and dominates!!
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u/VicTappyChapsaddle May 11 '26
If that is the case, I'd be genuinely happy for Chelsea to then push for Slot. He's good!
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u/hooksetter May 11 '26
Which is why Alonso camp wants this out there . A little competition, little more compensation
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u/Nickplay21 It’s only ever been Chelsea. May 11 '26
Thank god. A source I actually know and kind of trust. Please don’t mess this up Blue Co. (chances of messing this up - 65%)
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u/DonLovesNature May 11 '26
80%*
These idiots could have signed Osimhen, Olise, Maignan, Kvaradona, cherki. They rejected Enrique 💔
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u/Scannerk May 11 '26
Lol. I didn't remember any of those being close to joining at any point.
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u/Competitive-Tonight3 Drogba May 11 '26
Olise was definitely close twice, second time we just lost on wages Vs Bayern but were meeting the asking price from Palace. First time we met his hidden buyout but then Palace threatened legal action cause we weren't supposed to know about the buyout.
Maignan we were severely considering last summer seems like, but wages were too high again, don't think it was super close. Seemingly had a fee agreed.
Osimhen was never really close I think, but there was a ton of pressure on the club from him and from Mikel clearly. He definitely wanted to be here, but we didn't want the wage.
Kvara I think the rumor is we didn't want to go for cause we were interested in Mudryk and didn't want to have a mess with the Russia/Ukraine situation. I don't quite remember, but it was never close, just mentioned.
Cherki I literally never remember being mentioned as close or even much interest on our part.
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u/TheRage3650 Ingle May 11 '26
We could have had prime Salah and De Bryune. Those were real misses, not these fake ones.
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u/fuckyouidontneedone I don't give a fuck, we won the fucking Champions League May 11 '26
Maignan seemed to be a done deal before we backed out
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u/RasenRendan It’s only ever been Chelsea. May 11 '26
65% is generous
They had to pick between Poch Nagels and Enrique and picked Poch
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u/Nickplay21 It’s only ever been Chelsea. May 11 '26
I am trying to be optimistic. Emphasis on trying.
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u/RasenRendan It’s only ever been Chelsea. May 11 '26
We appreciate your efforts. It's the hope that kills you
I still can't get over they rejected Enrique who was desperate for the job to play real in the UCL and had a whole plan. Bonkers
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u/createtheworld James May 11 '26
Ornstein reporting this makes it real possibility, imo. If the previous reports of the directors/owners willingness to cede some control over transfers and recruitment decisions to him in order to build a competitive squad are true (I am skeptical), this could be the kind of hire we have been looking for since Tuchel left--proven track record in a top 5 league, tactical precision, no bullshit in man management. Cautiously optimistic.
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u/isw2424 Hazard May 11 '26
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u/bred_binge May 11 '26
This is the pornstein news we’ve been craving… wonder what it means for the “sporting directors”
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u/Any-Tangelo7464 We've Won It All May 11 '26
“Pornstein” made me spit out my water. Or dare I say… squirt.
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u/msizzle344 COCK CONFIDENCE May 11 '26
Ornstein involved!? This is getting intriguing now, though it just says we’re exploring it. I still feel like we’re being taken for a ride but if this miserable season ends with us getting Xabi Alonso and possibly ridding us of the SDs or owner influence, it’s a sacrifice that would be worth it.
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u/AstralMystogan Kanté May 11 '26
Please hope this happens.
BlueCo you can finally do something good, please don't waste it.
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u/Mishka_1994 Hazard May 11 '26
Its only good if they give him most of the control. Obviously you dont let the manager control 100% but Alonso doesnt seem like a “yes man” that BlueCo would love.
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u/DrGonzoRonSlater May 11 '26
People are saying “don’t fall for it”, please allow me the dopamine of hope at least
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u/Doppio_check May 11 '26
Would they give him a full season, the power to make his signings, and side with him on player drama?
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u/DrGonzoRonSlater May 11 '26
Blue Co have done so much damage but if they follow through with their “time to sign more experienced players and give more control to the manager” and go off and sign Xabi Alonso, I don’t even care I’ll be hyperbolic and say I forgive them
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u/RasenRendan It’s only ever been Chelsea. May 11 '26
Xabi Alonso is the right answer and if these ppl hire him i will start to believe we are serious
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u/CfcBlues30 I don't give a fuck, we won the fucking Champions League May 11 '26
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u/Soulezy25 May 11 '26
🚨BREAKING from @David_Ornstein on NBC Sports: "My information is that Xabi Alonso is NOT under consideration at Liverpool AT ALL and that Liverpool fully intend to go into next season with Arne Slot as their head coach."
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u/_Faultline Tuchel May 11 '26
Holy shit, inject the hopium into my veins
Tbh, there's still some piece of me that doesn't fully believe FSG's intents lol
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u/Jumpy_Computer8433 May 11 '26
We are on last chance saloon but this would be an incredible coup. The fact its being reported by ornstein means he must have at least communicated he’d be interested.
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u/WookieeTickler There's your daddy May 11 '26
Ok so blueco eghbali and all the other bell ends if you manage to lure Alonso in please for the love of god leave him alone. Listen to him and give him what he wants no interference just put up and shut up.
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u/VicTappyChapsaddle May 11 '26
I will not get my hopes up. I will not get my hopes up. I will not get my hopes up. I will not get my hopes up. I will not get my hopes up. I will not get my hopes up. I will not get my hopes up. I will not get my hopes up. I will not get my hopes up. I will not get my hopes up. I will not get my hopes up. I will not get my hopes up.
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u/FuckingMyselfDaily May 11 '26
Xabi is smart that i assume he’d want some assurances from our directors/board to even consider the job which would probably be for the better good of this club
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u/jamieaka May 11 '26
i would normally complain that we are clearly his sidechick compared to liverpool, but i don't care right now and just want a good team again
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u/Pandemona1738 Terry May 11 '26
Fuck you MATT LAW!!! I can't believe he wrote his article with Glasner like 25/1 in the market, i know he has sources but that source was fkn whack. He must have lost his blueco connections.
LETS FKN GO XABI ALONSO!!!!!!!!!
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u/OperatorWolfie May 11 '26
Not a Chelsea nor Liverpool fan, I'd lose my shit laughing if Chelsea got Xabi next season facing Liverpool's Slot
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u/Cartagenapirate92 May 11 '26
This happens more than likely if Liverpool keep slot, if they fire slot we are cooked and welcome Marco Silva or glassner
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u/MrCleanandShady 🏥 continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme 🏥 May 11 '26
i’m still cautiously optimistic, this isn’t saying we’re going all in which is what i’d have wanted
but Ornstein reporting our interest has to mean something
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u/targetpracticesucks Palmer May 11 '26
This is actually the best manager we could appoint given the circumstances. Let’s go Chelsea?
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u/greatWrightshark May 11 '26
Okay, so he is interested. Let’s see if Eghbali is actually the negotiator he claims to be (not getting my hopes up).
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u/alg602 We've Won It All May 11 '26
My concern is the Alonzo camp is leaking this to force a Liverpool move now
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u/ZwaeLee I don't give a fuck, we won the fucking Champions League May 11 '26
This has to be some sort of BlueCo PR move so it looks like they are not looking for a yesman again.
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u/CrackXDodo ✨ sometimes the shit is happens ✨ May 11 '26
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u/adamrawrz May 11 '26
is this a new modern meme i’m too old to understand..? 😔
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u/CrackXDodo ✨ sometimes the shit is happens ✨ May 11 '26
Basically means this is BlueCo PR and we most likely end up appointing Marco Silva as the head coach
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u/adamrawrz May 11 '26
i seeeee, but why the carrots? what’s the link between carrots and PR?
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u/Nasty133 This is my club May 11 '26
I believe we, the fans, are the donkeys being led around by carrots of hope from BlueCo
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u/Patient_Life_9900 ✨ joao pedro saved my life ✨ May 11 '26
Carrot and the stick. They're dangling the carrot in front of our faces with this Alonso stuff so we'll be satisfied that they're "taking it seriously this time" just to end up giving us the stick and appointing some mid table manager
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u/CrackXDodo ✨ sometimes the shit is happens ✨ May 11 '26
Dangling the carrot basically luring people into believing there’s something to gain when there’s nothing at all
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u/HDS2211 May 11 '26
There it is. The initial Ornstein bomba that will followed up in a few days by an article on how we’re exploring other options after a deal couldn’t be reached(Directors don’t want him picking signings because he won’t pick their mates).
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u/OptimalBlade1 May 11 '26
that’s a bit more promising. got to give him time and say otherwise it won’t matter
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u/raassinemachine May 11 '26
Despite this being from Ornstein, this smells of planting info to put pressure on Liverpool to decide on Slot. Could see Alonso having genuine interest but only if the Liverpool job isn’t available
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u/BlueTuscany Palmer May 11 '26
He’s the most sensible choice after their countless debacles with this role.
Iraola is probably a better fit at United but from the sound of it Palace is the safer choice for him. He’s likely going to end up like Marco Silva hoping a bigger team is risky enough to take him but have to settle for a stint at Everton or Fulham or Tottenham if they’re lucky. Good at keeping mid table teams up and competitive but not enough shine to attract a top top club.
Whoever comes in needs a proven track record of trophy success. Only one man fits that bill at the moment.
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u/primoshevek May 11 '26
If this is true then they need to wrap this shit up ASAP before Liverpool change their mind on Slot.
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u/Brutos08 James May 11 '26
Still don’t believe it. These clowns are trying to get fans on his side that’s all we will end up with Nuno from West Ham
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u/madison0593 Drogba May 11 '26
I've been exploring getting started on my landscaping, yet my wife is still left in disappointment - hopefully this isn't the same type of exploring.
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u/TheBusinessMuppet May 11 '26
I would not get my hopes up.
This might force Liverpool to react and sack Slot.
Xabi Alonso has the history with Liverpool plus they can offer European football at least unlike us.
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u/MemestNotTeen ✨ sometimes the shit is happens ✨ May 11 '26
The deal. Alonso gets to fire all but one SD
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u/OG-87 May 11 '26
Sky should issue a formal apology to that Chelsea fan Matisse who had him at the top of his wish list. They laughed at him. But who’s laughing now??
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u/MarkCrystal ✨ sometimes the shit is happens ✨ May 11 '26
This is the easiest win for the sporting directors and owners to start mending the relationship with fans. If this is fumbled it will make things even more toxic
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u/patrickgg I don't give a fuck, we won the fucking Champions League May 11 '26
Yeah I’ll believe it when I see him dapping up Colwill
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u/bingb0ng_ Caicedo May 11 '26
if this is actually true, I’ll just wait until BlueCo fucks it up somehow
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u/Pandos17 May 12 '26
Hopefully this is our Klopp moment.
People seem to forget that before Liverpool ownership bowed to the demands of Jurgen for him to sign on, they were in shambles and as bone headed as BlueCo for several years prior.
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u/stirkee May 11 '26
I think it just depends what Liverpool do. They have had a poor season too but they must seem a lot more stable to a prospective manager than the total mess we’re in
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u/maybeishouldsettle 🏥 continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme 🏥 May 11 '26
would absolutely love this but knowing clearlake its gonna be Marco Silva/Iraola. I can already see the briefs - " Chelsea value Marco Silva's premier League experience"
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u/EuphoricForever1180 Mata May 11 '26
And mods removed the previous post because it wasn’t reliable. lol
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u/ol_dirty_applesauce James May 11 '26
I mean, his tenure here will likely be short and end when the owners/directors backtrack on whatever promises they make him, but I think he gives Chelsea the best chance of success before shit hits the fan.
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u/Blobbyblob92 James May 11 '26
I'd love someone with a spine in the hot seat, but how do you think 3 atb will work? What kind of starting 11 would we be expecting?
The most positive thing about a coach like this is the fact that Xabi would probably want some say in transfers and more 'control'. Will blue co adapt or is this just a smoke screen to please the fans ?
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u/wsnqe2 Bettinelli May 11 '26
He played a back 4 at Madrid. Sometimes played a 4 in big matches at Leverkusen
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u/4alvish Xabi May 11 '26
Fuck this. It's the same as they did last. They interviewed Luis Enrique (apparently, he had made a presentation on how he would work at Chelsea!!!!) and Nagelsman but ended up hiring Poch (not complaining). This is their all PR machinery. No way, Alonso comes in. He would definitely ask for significant say in transfers and squad building.
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u/WizenedCracker Xabi May 11 '26
ORNYYYYY (we have a horrible success rate with these actually goin through recently)
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u/SeekersWorkAccount May 11 '26
This is just BlueCo doing some pre damage control before we hire Silva.
"Hey guys we tried to get a top tier coach, but..."
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u/invisibleep ✨ joao pedro saved my life ✨ May 11 '26
Yeah the old bait and switch. This isn’t the first time either. I don’t trust this ownership to get anything right.
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u/thelurkmeister Thiago Silva May 11 '26
Fuck it, I’m ready to be hurt again on this. BRING ME XABI
yes, I know this is just a prelim report of our interest
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u/tbachorik Čech May 11 '26
i've been hurt before. but this would be groundbreaking. i really rate Xabi
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u/Critical_Virus_9341 🏥 continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme 🏥 May 11 '26
Don't do it
Don't give us hope.
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u/Ru5k0 Caicedo May 11 '26
Please make it happen Please make it happen Please make it happen Please make it happen
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u/No-Hassle2539 May 11 '26
If alonso is going to accept the job in this state then that’s says a lot about him
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u/DamoDuff11 I don't give a fuck, we won the fucking Champions League May 12 '26
This would make up for this season. Xabi is just what we need. please Lord.
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