Xabi Alonso has sent a message to Chelsea fans after being announced as the Blues’ new manager.The Spaniard has signed a four-year deal in west London, set to begin on July 1, 2026.In a message to Chelsea fans, Alonso said: “Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football, and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club.”From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. Xabi Alonso has sent a message to Chelsea fans | PA”We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.”There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club, and it will be my great honour to lead it. “Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.”Alonso said: ‘There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club’ | GETTYAlonso typically plays in a 3-4-2-1 shape, a system that resonates well at Stamford Bridge, having won the Champions League under Thomas Tuchel and the Premier League with Antonio Conte, both playing a three-back.The formation offers vast width across the pitch, which was seen during the Spaniard’s tenure at Bayer Leverkusen.The system worked incredibly well in Germany, with Leverkusen winning 28 games and drawing six, going undefeated.Leverkusen ended Bayern Munich’s 11-year stranglehold on the trophy, as Alonso delivered its first Bundesliga title.Alonso’s tenure at Bayer Leverkusen saw him win a domestic double in the 2023/24 season | GETTYHis style of play focuses on using the ball deep into the opposition’s final third, creating chances through quick, fluid play.When asked about how his team dominates the ball, Alonso said: “Possession football is not about keeping the ball for the sake of it. “It’s about patience, precision, and creating the right opportunities to break down the opposition.”The quote will resonate well with Chelsea fans who have previously voiced frustrations about the way the Blues build up from the back, with jeers often heard across Stamford Bridge about the side-to-side football being played.Xabi Alonso typically sets his side up in a 3-4-2-1 formation | REUTERSChelsea made the announcement less than 24 hours after their FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City.Talks have been ongoing for weeks with the former Liverpool midfielder.Alonso has been out of a job since January 2026 after departing Real Madrid, just seven months into a three-year contract.The appointment marks a new chapter in west London and gives Blues fans hope that their club can start challenging with the elite again.