Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso anticipates a challenging match against Hull City, who have claimed seven points and kept a clean sheet in their first three Premier League outings.
When quizzed about his side's attacking prowess, which some might label unstoppable, Alonso was hesitant to use such superlatives:
Let's not use such grand words. ‘Unstoppable’ is too bold a phrase for football. We approach the upcoming match with the same respect as we did with Arsenal last week. They've got seven points and haven’t conceded at all. It will be tough to beat them. They've got strengths in their transitions and set pieces. The team believes in themselves, and their manager is doing a fantastic job. We will need to showcase our best football to overcome Hull.
One of Alonso's main objectives remains finding the right balance between attack and defence:
This is our focus. It’s what drives our work and the entire process. We want to be more competitive and play going forward as well as we can or even better because there are opportunities for improvement there too. At the same time, we need a balance, a sense of solidity and strength in defence. We don’t want to be conceding too many goals, and that’s something the whole team needs to work on—from the forwards to the goalkeeper.
Alonso also shared his thoughts on ball possession, stressing that Chelsea must be adaptable to opponents and different match scenarios:
I favour an approach where we need to adapt and compete. We understand that every match will be difficult and the context will change. We have scored well in all our games. We will definitely need to adjust our approach depending on the match. We are still at the beginning of this process, and it’s too early to say what this team will become. A lot will evolve, especially when key players return. We feel that we are competing well, but there are indeed areas we can improve.
For Alonso, while possession is important, it's not the ultimate goal:
It’s a significant aspect, but for me, the key is to create chances, have opportunities to win matches, and not allow the opponent too many. Sometimes, having the ball makes it easier to control the game, but you must also know how to feel in control in other situations, as opponents are strong and the competition level is very high.
When asked if he expected to see Hull above Chelsea in the table after three rounds, Alonso replied:
Why not? They deserve to be where they are. They’ve played against Manchester United, Coventry and Aston Villa, and looked very good in all those encounters. They have a clear understanding of how they want to play and compete. They’ve retained players from last season and have brought in some new faces, but their mentality is evident—they’re prepared to fight for their goal, which I believe is to stay in the Premier League.
Alonso praised Hull's manager, who has recently been awarded Manager of the Month:
For me, just getting out of the Championship into the Premier League is a massive achievement. Congratulations to him for the award, but even more so for the promotion last season. What they’re doing now is impressive. We are prepared. There will be no underestimating them from our side. We fully respect them and understand that winning won't be easy. If we do everything right, compete hard, and play to our level, we’ll have good chances.
Alonso also commented on speculation regarding potential changes within Chelsea's hierarchy:
I’m not the person who should provide information on such matters. I’m not aware of anything. I’m just working quietly, fully satisfied with how we’re interacting and the alignment of our positions. That’s about all I can say at this moment.
