Only a few hundred dispirited Chelsea fans remained inside Wembley as Cole Palmer and his teammates ascended the steps to receive their runners-up medals following their 1-0 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
The announcement of Xabi Alonso's imminent appointment as Chelsea's manager, which emerged shortly after Saturday's loss, likely offered a glimmer of hope to the supporters.
The former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager, aged 44, is expected to be officially appointed in the coming days and will be introduced during pre-season, with his contract commencing on 1 July.
Regardless of the outcome at Wembley, Chelsea had nearly finalized their decision regarding Liam Rosenior's successor and aimed to avoid any distractions for players and staff involved in the final.
Consequently, there was no delay in announcing Alonso's arrival once the match concluded, allowing the club to focus on future plans.
While Alonso, who had a distinguished playing career and led Leverkusen to league and cup victories in Germany, represents an exciting prospect for fans, there is recognition of the challenges he faces.
Chelsea are entering a turbulent summer, as the FA Cup final defeat eliminated another pathway to European competition.
Champions League qualification is already unattainable, and securing a spot in the Europa League appears unlikely, with the club currently ninth in the Premier League with two games remaining and likely needing at least a seventh-place finish.
Participation in the Conference League would offer minimal financial benefit or excitement to fans accustomed to competing against Europe's elite.
There is a realistic possibility Chelsea will miss out on UEFA competitions entirely. However, club sources strongly reject claims that the club would prefer to avoid qualification for lesser tournaments or be content without European football, despite their settlement with financial regulators following significant transfer expenditures.
This situation leaves Alonso inheriting a squad low on confidence, operating under financial restrictions, and facing broader personnel challenges.
Alonso Reaches Agreement in Principle to Become Chelsea Manager
Following the FA Cup final, Semenyo scored the decisive goal as Manchester City defeated Chelsea.
What Do Chelsea See in Alonso?
Chelsea are eager to learn from this season's experiences and have been impressed by Alonso's knowledge, leadership, emotional intelligence, and values.
The club also appreciates his trophy-winning background and his ability to collaborate within an established organizational structure.
This group of players and the club's structure differ significantly from those at Real Madrid, where Alonso's seven-month tenure ended in January after disagreements with several key players, including Kylian Mbappe.
While Stamford Bridge does not feature the same 'Galactico' stars, key players such as Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez voiced criticisms during Rosenior's tenure, as he lost significant support within the dressing room, particularly among Spanish-speaking players.
Alonso will need to consider these dynamics, but sources close to several players have expressed enthusiasm about his appointment.
Notably, Alonso will be designated as "manager" rather than "head coach" to reflect his senior role within a partnership involving key club figures, as Chelsea seek to rebuild following a turbulent campaign that led to the departures of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
This does not imply Alonso will make all decisions independently.
Chelsea currently employ five sporting directors with defined responsibilities, and player recruitment will be a collaborative effort between Alonso and these officials, "tweaking" the balance between adding experienced players and long-term planning.
There will also need to be consensus on significant player departures, especially if Chelsea fail to qualify for European competitions.
Alonso is reportedly enthusiastic about the current squad, but both he and the club acknowledge the need for improvements during the summer transfer window, with targets including at least a centre-back, midfielder, and forward.
The club also recognizes past errors and intends to work with Alonso—a former midfielder for Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich—to restore Chelsea to the winning team expected by the club and its supporters.
Addressing Culture, Squad, and Physical Challenges
During the FA Cup final, Semenyo's decisive goal secured Manchester City's victory over Chelsea.
Chelsea are confronting cultural issues that continue to impede progress. These problems were highlighted by a protest march involving approximately 200 fans on Wembley Way on Saturday.
There is an increasing disconnect between the supporters and the club, as well as between fans and players. In some instances, divisions exist within the squad and between players and the broader organization.
One contributing factor, as influential co-owner Behdad Eghbali has acknowledged, is that "getting that stability on the manager side is one of the things we haven't done right yet."
"Getting that stability on the manager side is one of the things we haven't done right yet." — Behdad Eghbali
The hope is that Alonso's status and authority will help address these issues, reinforce the club's ambitions, and improve communication with both players and supporters.
On the field, Alonso will be tasked with enhancing the team's mental, physical, and tactical performance. Questions have been raised about the squad's mentality, with accusations of players "downing tools" this season, holding the worst disciplinary record in the division, and underperforming in key matches.
This includes a 14-game winless streak against Manchester City and seven consecutive defeats in domestic cup finals.
Physically, Chelsea have been outmatched by opponents, covering less distance than any other Premier League team this season, except for a single instance at Anfield during the 1-1 draw against Liverpool last weekend.
Defensively, issues that emerged under Maresca earlier in the campaign expanded into broader problems at both ends of the pitch under Rosenior, whose six-game losing streak without scoring ultimately led to his departure.
The FA Cup final was closely contested against Pep Guardiola's side, but interim manager Calum McFarlane lamented the cruel nature of football, believing his team deserved at least one penalty.
"It's a really talented group - there's lots of quality. The fight and heart have been questioned at times, but in the last two performances I don't think you can question that." — Calum McFarlane
While there is evident quality, substantial work remains. Chelsea face a passionate and frustrated fanbase and have transitioned from Maresca to Rosenior to McFarlane and now Alonso within five months.
The club's ownership is under scrutiny, and Alonso has a significant task ahead to unify and strengthen the team.
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