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Are Chelsea players enjoying working with Xabi Alonso? Reece James answers
07th September, 2026 11:26 AM
Chelsea skipper Reece James has lifted the lid on the early days of working with coach Xabi Alonso, who took over the Blues head coach role just before the start of the new season.
Speaking after the defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, September 6, 2026, the versatile ace described the experience as enjoyable for the team as they learn and put into practice the philosophy of the new Spaniard gaffer.
The 2–1 loss to Arsenal snapped Chelsea’s winning start, but the performance showed clear progress according to the skipper.
Enjoying it
Even after falling behind early in the second half, the Blues pinned the hosts back and fought until the final whistle before leaving it all on the pitch.
“It has been two or 3 months working with the new manager and his staff. We are enjoying it; we are two wins from three in the league. It is a small bump on the road, but we will be back,” he said.
James insisted that the squad’s ambitions for the season remain unchanged, with Chelsea determined to build a consistent winning mentality under their new manager.
“The goal is to always win week in and week out, and at the end of the season we would like to go far in the competition we are in. We are dedicated to what we want and the way he wants us to play. And I am convinced we will come from the work we put in day in and day out,” he added.
On the defeat to Arsenal, the skipper downplayed the narrow loss, treating it as a small blip.
“It was a good start, and another game did go our way, but we showed our character,” he opined.
Alonso ‘hurt’ by Arsenal loss
His remarks come after Alonso admitted to suffering hurt after the Gunners delivered the first league defeat to his charges. Alonso, who had initially led Chelsea to back-to-back wins in his opening two games, however, praised the effort from his team.
“It hurts to lose any game, and it hurts to lose here at the Emirates,” Alonso said.
“It is a new era here, and I am happy with my players and the attitude they showed. They fought until the end, and we could have taken something away from the Emirates, but it was not to be,” he added.
The Blues finished tenth in the league last season but had kicked off their 2026 campaign on a promising note, scoring seven goals before the London Derby defeat to Arsenal.
