Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher sat down for a wide-ranging interview with Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso in which the pair discussed his appointment at Stamford Bridge and his aims for the season, as well as looking back at their time playing together at Liverpool. "It was about the timing. For me, it was the right timing after Leverkusen.
After Madrid, I had my time off and I wanted to have that good feeling, that good connection about where to go. "I had no link to Chelsea, but with the potential that was here, a few things could change and I thought we could start the journey together. "I had a feeling that the very strong base of the squad was very good and with some updates, some improvements, some new signings, we could have a solid team.
And that it was going to be a project. "It's not that, in year one it's already done; we know it might take some more years, but the first year is important. It's just starting but, so far, the feeling that we could be aligned taking decisions is going to be important." "From outside, I had the view of what I read, what I saw about the team, but then you get to know the people, you get to know their analysis, the things they have done, the things they thought could be done better, where we were and where we wanted to take the club.
"Knowing that, in many processes, many decisions, I was going to be part of it, was important. There is the ownership, the sporting director and me, but we are always connected and we have good communication. "That's basic, to take responsibility.
Things after can go well or not go well because this is football, but in the end, you want to feel part of it." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "No, it was not a worry because I know what you need to get results, but I had the feeling we were on the same page. "We knew that where we want to be next year or in two years will take time and this is the process of building things the right way and that's why the first phase we have improved in the team has been good. "It's just seven games, but we have a clear direction of what we want.
This is football, you need to get the results. But to have the feeling we are doing things in the right way and that we have a plan is as important for me as the results." "In the medium to long-term, yes. We know that takes time and many right decisions.
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