'I played for Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso - it's clear to me who the better manager is'

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Xabi Alonso is coming to the Premier League as a manager and will face his old friend Mikel Arteta next season. Xabi Alonso will go head-to-head with Mikel Arteta next season (Image: Getty Images)Former Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso will go head-to-head with fellow Spaniard Mikel Arteta in next season's Premier League after putting pen to paper on a deal to take charge at Chelsea.

Read our Privacy Policy Trending Even so, a noticeable distinction between the two was apparent, most evident in Alonso's greater willingness to experiment with his tactical shape."Mikel has his philosophy and that's it," Xhaka told the PFA in 2024. "You know this always change the sides, the free man, let him jump for example."He continued: "Even to play always with a back four and never change to a back five for example, or never change like a 4-4-2 with two proper strikers.

What he wants is always two number sixes, not running everywhere or more of the time be in the position."But I think that if you are a coach you need your own philosophy, your own tactical, your own ideas. Of course you can always change one or two [things] but you can't change so many things about it you know?"Xabi Alonso and Granit Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen (Image: Getty Images)The Chelsea role will mark Alonso's debut in English football and his first position since departing Real Madrid just a matter of months into his three-year deal at the Bernabeu.He has put pen to paper on a four-year contract with Chelsea, who had interim boss Calum McFarlane in the dugout for their FA Cup final defeat following Liam Rosenior's dismissal in April."Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club," the newly appointed Blues manager declared upon confirmation of his arrival.