Five reasons for Chelsea fans to be optimistic heading into the 2026-27 campaign

With Xabi Alonso now in the managerial hotseat, the Blues are gradually tweaking the squad that flopped in the Champions League, reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, lost the FA Cup final and finished a lowly 10th in the Premier League.

Alonso, 44, has reportedly been given a greater say in player recruitment than his predecessors and will be looking to make an immediate impact as the Blues compete on three fronts.

While there may not be European football to look forward to, the big-money arrival of England star Morgan Rogers shows BlueCo are backing their new manager to the hilt.

But as the Chelsea faithful will tell you, expensive signings don’t always deliver success — so why should they believe things will be different this time?

Alonso setting the tone

Granted, Alonso did not enjoy the happiest of spells in charge of Real Madrid.

But having played for Liverpool for five years, he is fully aware of how Chelsea’s fanbase became accustomed to trophies galore under Roman Abramovich’s reign.

That knowledge of the Blues and English football stands him in good stead, while his achievements at Liverpool, Real and Bayern Munich during a stellar playing career will command respect from a star-studded group of players.

Throw in the fact he led Bayer Leverkusen to three domestic trophies during a successful managerial spell in Germany and the omens look good.

The new kid on the block

Heading into the World Cup, it appeared Rogers was destined to trade Aston Villa for Arsenal.

But Chelsea came calling and Mikel Arteta’s hopes were dashed, despite the fact the Gunners could offer him Champions League football.

While it remains to be seen how Alonso shoehorns Rogers into his side alongside Cole Palmer, the Blues have bagged a player who provided 14 goals and 12 assists in 55 appearances last season.

Red-hot Pedro leading the line

Eyebrows were raised when Carlo Ancelotti left Joao Pedro out of Brazil’s World Cup squad — but the versatile attacker will be raring to go under Alonso.

After netting 20 goals and providing nine assists in 50 appearances last term, the former Brighton man is widely expected to pick up where he left off.

If he can use the disappointment of being snubbed as motivation, Pedro could be destined to better those numbers.

The return of Estevao

Although Estevao’s debut season at Chelsea was curtailed by injury, fans saw enough to declare him a star in the making.

Weighing in with eight goals and four assists in 36 appearances across all competitions, the talented winger was one of the few players capable of getting supporters out of their seats during a difficult campaign.

His recovery from a hamstring tear has left him with a race against time to be match-fit for the start of the season — but Alonso will be in no doubt of the Brazilian’s immense potential.

Engine-room workhorse Caicedo

After impressing at the World Cup, Moises Caicedo will be champing at the bit to get going again in the heart of Chelsea’s midfield.

Despite managers coming and going last term, the Ecuadorian was a mainstay and even found the net five times across 50 appearances in all competitions.

Unless the unthinkable happens, the ever-reliable Caicedo will be one of the first names on Alonso’s team sheet.

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