Emile Heskey has backed Xabi Alonso to secure a trophy for Chelsea this season, suggesting it could be pivotal for the club’s ambitions. The ex-England forward opined that winning a cup competition would significantly lessen the strain on the manager and offer him the breathing space necessary for team growth.
Chelsea’s start to the season has been rocky, having conceded 12 goals before the international break — the highest in the Premier League. However, following the break, Alonso’s men bounced back emphatically, hammering Bournemouth 5-1, which lifted them to sixth place.
With no European commitments this term, the Blues can now focus their resources on domestic competitions. Heskey believes the FA Cup or League Cup could become critical targets for Alonso.
He stated:
When you’re at a big club, the expectations are always high.
In the first year, you’re given time to settle, but ideally, you want to win a cup. By the second season, they expect a challenge for major trophies, and in the third, you need to deliver. That applies to Xabi Alonso too.
According to Heskey, securing the first trophy can profoundly change perceptions of a manager's tenure.
Winning takes a massive load off your shoulders.
If you can nab the League Cup or FA Cup early on, it makes life a lot easier.
The former striker recalled his own time at Leicester, where the League Cup allowed teams to secure their first silverware of the season relatively quickly.
Back in my day, many teams didn’t play their strongest side in the League Cup.
You could clinch it by March. It’s an early trophy that immediately alleviates some pressure.
Heskey stressed that such an achievement is particularly important for Alonso, given the expectations that come with managing Chelsea.
With the current results, there will always be pressure.
But that first trophy can significantly ease the situation. The League Cup could mark the start of a prosperous period.
Alonso is no stranger to winning national trophies, having led Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal victory without a single defeat in the 2023/24 season. Now the Spaniard is tasked with clinching his first trophies on English soil.
Chelsea remains in the hunt for both the FA Cup and League Cup, with a crucial tie against Liverpool scheduled later this month.
