Chelsea appoint Xabi Alonso as new manager after FA Cup final loss

Only a few hundred Chelsea fans remained inside Wembley when Cole Palmer and teammates collected their losers' medals after the 1-0 FA Cup final defeat by Manchester City.

News of Xabi Alonso's appointment as the club's new manager emerged soon after the loss and offered some relief.

The 44-year-old former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen coach is expected to be confirmed in the next few days and unveiled in pre-season. His contract starts on 1 July.

Chelsea had already been close to choosing a successor to Liam Rosenior before the final and wanted to avoid any distraction for players and staff on the day.

Once the match ended, there was no reason to delay the announcement, and attention quickly turned to the future.

Alonso, who had a distinguished playing career and guided Bayer Leverkusen to league and cup titles in Germany, is seen as an exciting choice. Club sources also note that he faces a difficult task.

Chelsea head into a turbulent summer. The FA Cup final loss removed one route into European competition. Champions League qualification is already out of reach, and a Europa League place looks unlikely. The club sits ninth in the Premier League with two games left and would probably need at least seventh place to qualify.

Conference League football would bring limited financial benefit and little excitement for fans accustomed to facing Europe's top sides.

There is a realistic chance Chelsea will miss European competition altogether. Club sources reject suggestions that the club would prefer to avoid lesser European ties or accept life without them, despite the financial settlement reached with regulators after heavy transfer spending.

Alonso will inherit a squad low on confidence, operating under financial limits and facing personnel challenges.

Chelsea want to learn from this season and have been impressed by Alonso's knowledge, leadership, emotional intelligence and values. They also value his record of winning trophies and his ability to work within an established structure.

The group and structure differ sharply from those at Real Madrid, where Alonso's seven-month spell ended in January after a dispute with several key players, including Kylian Mbappe.

Stamford Bridge lacks the same star names, but key players such as Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez criticised the club during Rosenior's tenure and he lost support in parts of the dressing room, especially among Spanish speakers.

Alonso will have to address that issue. Sources close to several players say they are excited by the appointment.

Chelsea have given Alonso the title of manager rather than head coach to reflect his seniority in a partnership with senior club figures. The move comes after a turbulent campaign that led to the departures of Enzo Maresca and Rosenior.

Alonso will not make every decision. Chelsea have five sporting directors with defined roles, and player recruitment will be carried out jointly with him. The club will also seek alignment on major departures, especially if it fails to reach Europe.

Alonso is said to be excited by the squad, but both sides agree it needs improvement. Chelsea are targeting at least a centre-back, a midfielder and a forward.

Club officials acknowledge past mistakes and say they must work with Alonso, a former midfielder at Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, to build the winning team they and the fans expect.

Chelsea also face cultural problems that continue to hinder progress. These issues were highlighted by a protest march of around 200 fans on Wembley Way on Saturday.

There is a growing disconnect between supporters and the club, and between fans and players. Divisions also exist within the squad and between players and the wider organisation.

Co-owner Behdad Eghbali has acknowledged that stability at manager level is one area the club has not handled well.

The hope is that someone of Alonso's standing can help restore stability, reinforce ambition and improve communication with players and supporters.

On the pitch, Alonso will be asked to improve the team mentally, physically and tactically. Questions have been raised about the squad's mentality after a 14-game winless run against Manchester City, seven straight domestic cup final defeats and the worst disciplinary record in the Premier League.

Physically, Chelsea have covered less distance than any other Premier League side this season, apart from one match at Anfield.

Defensive problems that began under Maresca widened under Rosenior, whose six-game losing run without a goal led to his exit.

Interim manager Calum McFarlane said the final against Pep Guardiola's side was closely fought and that his team deserved at least one penalty. He added that the squad has quality and showed fight in the last two matches.

Chelsea have a frustrated fan base and have now moved from Maresca to Rosenior to McFarlane and now to Alonso in five months. The ownership faces scrutiny, and Alonso has a demanding job ahead.