Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has cautioned Xabi Alonso to be wary of Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella should the Spaniard take over as manager at Stamford Bridge.
Alonso Emerges as Frontrunner
Alonso, the former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss, has become the leading candidate for the vacant Chelsea position following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior last month. The ex-Liverpool midfielder has long been linked with a return to Anfield, but Chelsea have held encouraging talks with the 42-year-old.
The club is searching for its sixth permanent manager since BlueCo took control from Roman Abramovich. Rosenior's 104-day reign was the shortest, with his authority crumbling in his final weeks amid a dismal run of results.
Player Comments Spark Controversy
During that period, Fernandez gave several interviews to foreign media, questioning tactics after the Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and hinting at a move to Spain. Cucurella followed suit, suggesting it would be difficult to reject Barcelona this summer. Gary Neville accused the pair of 'stitching up' Rosenior as the situation spiraled.
Gallas, who left Chelsea acrimoniously 20 years ago, believes the duo made a mistake by speaking out. 'Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella shouldn't have made those comments during the international break,' Gallas told BetVictor. 'You can't do that when you're a senior player at one of the biggest clubs in the country.'
He also criticized Rosenior's handling: 'Liam Rosenior shouldn't have addressed it publicly in a press conference. That needs to be dealt with privately. If you speak negatively about a player in public nowadays, they take offense and blame the manager.'
Alonso's Challenge
Gallas believes Alonso, if appointed, will know exactly who to watch out for. 'I think Alonso will know exactly who to look out for, especially Enzo and Cucurella, but there are four or five players he'll need to handle differently. The players need to realize they are simply not good enough.'
Alonso faces the task of restoring harmony at a club that has seen frequent managerial changes and player unrest. His experience at top clubs may prove valuable in managing egos and expectations.
