Marcel Desailly backs Xabi Alonso to do one vital thing at Chelsea | OneFootball

Former Blue Marcel Desailly has backed Xabi Alonso to develop the young talent in the Chelsea squad into stars.

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Alonso was announced as manager earlier this month, and the 44-yer-old has signed a four year contract at Stamford Bridge.

Unlike Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, Alonso has been given the title of manager which indicates he’ll have more control.

Marcel Desailly on Xabi Alonso developing Chelsea players

Alonso will reportedly have a say in transfers, with the Blue facing a critical window following a dreadful campaign in which they finished tenth.

Co-owner Behdad Eghbali has said the recruitment model will be tweaked this summer, but a lack of European football could make it difficult to attract the calibre of player needed.

The Blues also have a number of young stars who still have plenty of developing to do, and Desailly has backed Alonso to develop some of that talent into top players.

“There are like nine players who still need to be developed in the side,” he told TEAMtalk.

“Joao Pedro still needs to have somebody to guide him. Pedro Neto and Cole Palmer, the same. Build the attack around these guys.

“The defence, they all need guidance. Are any of them automatic first choices in their national teams? No. So it means they still have a margin of progression, and Alonso is the perfect coach to increase that and help those individuals catch up on their potential.”

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In other news…

Robert Sanchez reportedly doesn’t want to compete to be Chelsea’s first choice goalkeeper, meaning the Blues face a potentially difficult decision this summer.

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