Chelsea fans can relax, Xabi Alonso data explains everything

Analysis of Alonso's slow start at Chelsea draws parallels to his early struggles at Bayer Leverkusen, where he eventually led them to an unbeaten Bundesliga title win.

Xabi Alonso has endured an inconsistent opening to his Chelsea tenure, winning three of the first four games before taking just four points from the last 10 across all competitions. His tactical adjustments—switching from a back-three to a back-four—have improved defensive stability but reduced attacking output, while squad rotation decisions like limiting Estevao's game time have frustrated supporters.

However, Alonso's trajectory at Bayer Leverkusen offers reason for optimism. Upon arrival in 2022, he was considered a risky appointment with limited top-level experience, and Leverkusen won just one of his opening seven games while conceding 14 goals.

The turnaround came in February when the team won 10 of their next 13 matches, eventually leading to an unbeaten Bundesliga title-winning season—Leverkusen's first in club history.

While there is no guarantee Chelsea will experience a similar transformation, Alonso appears to take time embedding his tactical philosophy at new clubs. Unlike his brief spell at Real Madrid, where he won 24 of 34 matches but faced impatience, Chelsea seem willing to back him with time to implement his ideas.