UMVA has learned that Gary Neville has issued a stark warning to incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, cautioning him that he has 'one hell of a job on his hands' in turning around the struggling club.
Chelsea's dismal season ended with a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland on the final day, condemning them to a 10th-place finish in the Premier League and a shocking failure to qualify for any European competition. This miserable campaign has seen three different managers - Enzo Maresca, Liam Rosenior, and interim boss Calum McFarlane - attempt to steady the ship.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Alonso has been tasked with 'sorting the club out' after a disastrous season that has left Chelsea reeling. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder has been appointed on a four-year contract and will take over in July, following a successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen where he won the Bundesliga title.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Neville believes Alonso has been handed a monumental task, saying: 'He's been made the manager but he may as well have been called manager, sporting director, owner, the lot.' Neville's comments suggest that Alonso has been given a blank cheque to overhaul the club and restore it to its former glory.
Sunderland's win over Chelsea not only consigned the Blues to a miserable finish but also propelled the hosts to seventh in the Premier League, securing a spot in next season's Europa League. Chelsea's defeat was compounded by the news that they had ended the season with eight red cards - twice as many as the next highest club.
Interim boss McFarlane expressed his disappointment after the game, saying: 'We didn't get the performance we wanted or the result. The message to the fans - we're as disappointed as they are, and we're gutted we couldn't do it for them.' The Chelsea players will have to regroup and reflect on a season that has left them feeling despondent and frustrated.
