Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has outlined the areas Chelsea must strengthen ahead of next season following the appointment of Xabi Alonso as the club’s new manager.
Alonso has reportedly agreed to a four-year deal and will officially assume duties at Stamford Bridge on July 1. He replaces Liam Rosenior, whose spell at Chelsea lasted just 106 days after the January exit of Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea’s difficult campaign continued with defeat to Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup Final. Although the Blues ended a six-game winless run against Liverpool, they remain 10th in the Premier League table with slim hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Despite the club’s struggles, Alonso’s arrival is seen as a positive step after his successful stint with Bayer Leverkusen. His short time at Real Madrid was also viewed by many as being affected by issues beyond his control.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast on Sky Sports, Neville warned Chelsea against depending entirely on youth recruitment and called for more experienced additions.
He said, “Chelsea possesses a significant level of inexperience across all departments. They are inexperienced on the field, and a change in their model is necessary.
“This approach of exclusively signing young players on substantial contracts… while no one is opposed to acquiring young talent, limiting themselves to only young players is a considerable error.”
Neville added that Chelsea already have quality options in midfield but still need an experienced striker, a new goalkeeper, extra cover in central defence and more balance within the squad.
