Xabi Alonso has given game away over Liverpool manager change
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SportFootballLiverpool FCXabi Alonso has opted to become Chelsea's new manager and it could have an impact on his chances of ever managing LiverpoolFor Liverpool supporters enduring an unremittingly miserable season, it was wholly in keeping with what had gone before.And confirmation came on Sunday morning that former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso had agreed to take on the onerous task of trying to make some sense of Chelsea as manager.Given the animosity that truly began to ignite between the two fanbases during Alonso's time at Anfield in the mid-to-late 2000s, that the Spaniard should welcome the advances of the Stamford Bridge outfit will stick in the craw of many Reds followers.But it also offered a major pointer regards the dugout at Liverpool, for both the immediate and more distant future.READ MORE: Man City reliance sees Liverpool's dreadful season hit new low as critical week arrivesThe suggestion has long been that since being sacked by Real Madrid in January, Alonso has been waiting for the call from the Reds should they decide to make a change given the travails under Arne Slot this season.That he has now chosen to move to Chelsea indicates an acceptance that is unlikely to happen any time soon.Fenway Sports Group continue to have faith in Slot, even if a sizeable number of supporters - and, if the inference is correct, some members of Liverpool's underperforming squad - aren't quite so convinced.And the identity of Alonso's new club was a reminder that football is a job first and foremost for those involved. Quite rightly, they usually go where the work is.It has long been accepted that Chelsea are very much an exception to the norm.
Indeed, given only Jose Mourinho has lasted in the job beyond two seasons in the last 22 years, it could be argued almost every appointment is temporary.But while league form has fluctuated wildly, that hasn't stopped Chelsea regularly reaching finals and claiming silverware. Indeed, since Liverpool lifted the title just under 12 months ago, the Londoners have won two trophies and were beaten in Saturday's FA Cup showpiece against Manchester City.Alonso, then, has both a lot of work and a large weight of expectation to carry.
If Alonso fails, will Liverpool be minded to appoint in the future a manager who has failed at two of their most high-profile rivals in Chelsea and Real Madrid? And should Alonso make a success of his time in London, the uproar from Chelsea fans should he ever consider taking on the challenge at Liverpool will most likely rule out such a switch.Of course, the football landscape is now changing so quickly that previously accepted realities no longer apply, meaning anything is possible.