- Rooney also described Alonso as a coach with the potential to become one of the top managers in football
- He said having one game each week would give Alonso more time to settle into the role
- Chelsea may benefit from extra training time during the campaign
Former England striker Wayne Rooney has backed Chelsea F.C. to emerge as serious contenders in next season’s Premier League title race despite missing out on European football.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that chelsea finished a disappointing campaign in 10th position after losing 2-1 to Sunderland A.F.C. on the final day of the season, a result that denied them qualification for both the Europa League and Conference League.
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The London club also endured managerial changes during the season, parting ways with Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior before appointing Xabi Alonso as head coach.
Speaking on his podcast, Rooney said Chelsea’s absence from European competition could become an advantage as it would allow the team to focus fully on domestic football.
He said having one game each week would give Alonso more time to settle into the role, implement his ideas and build the squad.
Rooney also described Alonso as a coach with the potential to become one of the top managers in football.
Chelsea began the season as Club World Cup champions but struggled to maintain consistency in both domestic and European competitions.
The Blues reached the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League before suffering an 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain F.C..
Rooney further noted that clubs involved in European tournaments could face disruptions next season, especially with preparations affected by the World Cup schedule.
According to him, Chelsea may benefit from extra training time during the campaign, which could help Alonso shape the team more effectively.
Chelsea previously recovered from a 10th-place finish to win the Premier League title during the 2016-17 season, and Rooney believes a similar turnaround could happen again under Alonso.
