July has just begun, and Xabi Alonso's project has already taken two hard hits from the summer transfer window. Morgan Rogers appears to have accepted Arsenal's offer, while Andrey Santos departs Chelsea.
July has not started well for Chelsea's new coach, Xabi Alonso. He had his first preseason training session this Thursday, ahead of what will be a tough season for him and the team. Because they will likely be under the microscope match by match due to the media repercussions, that means having brought the Spaniard to manage one of the biggest clubs in England and in the world.
However, the "blows" the coach has received this month stem from two main factors. The first is what is about to become the failed signing of Morgan Rogers. A player who interests the Spaniard and the board too much, but, according to FootballTransfers, Arsenal would already be accepting the player's personal terms to sign him, and in this way, become the winner of the race.
It is important to clarify that because Rogers is still competing in the World Cup with England, he has not closed the deal with the Gunners. However, competing against the current Premier League champion, a team that will play in the Champions League next season, is a fairly difficult task. This is when reality slaps you in the face again: the reality that Chelsea will not play in any international competition next year.
Now, we also add the departure of Andrey Santos from the team, who joined Manchester United for a fee close to £50 million. Losing one of his midfielders, who, despite not being the undisputed starter during the previous season, usually delivered when needed. He became a regular substitute for players like Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, or even Reece James when he was used as a "6."
Despite this, you have to keep hope in the coach. Despite not having such a large squad full of stars, he can achieve great things if he manages to transmit his idea of the game to the players. It is as simple as remembering his time at Bayer Leverkusen, with a team whose biggest stars were Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka, and becoming Bundesliga champion undefeated, dethroning the powerful Bayern Munich.
At Real Madrid, with a team full of stars and many egos, he could not get the way he wanted them to play across, and he ended up leaving the club too soon. What will happen during his time at Chelsea? We will find out soon. We only hope the fans do not explode if the season begins with a defeat; we have to respect the process.
