Xabi Alonso committed cardinal sin against Tottenham, but calls for Chelsea sack are baffling

Xabi Alonso's Chelsea lost 2-0 at home to Spurs on Saturday; some fans call for his sack despite the club sitting fifth.

Chelsea suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Cole Palmer sent off during the match. Xabi Alonso's side managed just 31.3% possession and seven shots compared to Spurs' 15, a poor showing at home that prompted some supporters to demand the manager's dismissal on social media.

The article notes this is Chelsea's third Premier League defeat of the season, though the club remains fifth and in European contention. Alonso made a tactical error before kick-off, deploying 19-year-old Geovany Quenda on the wing after Joao Felix's injury, while striker Danny Welbeck remained on the bench until late. Some fans are calling for Alonso to be sacked if Chelsea don't beat Manchester United this Saturday.

However, the piece argues such demands are premature. Chelsea have cycled through five permanent managers since BlueCo's takeover in May 2022—Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior—destabilising the club. Alonso, a World Cup winner and former Liverpool midfielder, delivered success at Bayer Leverkusen, winning the Bundesliga unbeaten in 2023/24, and deserves time to settle.