Chelsea right-back Marco Palestra says the club is happy with the work of new head coach Xabi Alonso, offering an early insight into the mood surrounding the Spaniard’s arrival at Stamford Bridge.
“We are all happy with Xabi Alonso,” Palestra said.
Alonso took charge of Chelsea after the conclusion of last season. His appointment marked the start of a new period for the club, with the former Spanish international moving into the role once the previous campaign had ended.
Palestra’s comments focused on his experience of working with Alonso and reflected a positive response to the new head coach within the Chelsea set-up. The Italian defender did not provide further details about the nature of their work together, but his assessment was unequivocal: “We are all happy with Xabi Alonso.”
The arrival of Alonso has also coincided with Palestra becoming a Chelsea player. The Premier League club agreed to pay Atalanta almost €60m for the transfer of the right-back, with the signing announced at the beginning of July.
The move brought Palestra from Atalanta to Chelsea in a deal that made him one of the notable additions to the squad during the period following the end of the previous season. His transfer was confirmed shortly after Alonso had taken up his managerial position.
Palestra is therefore beginning his Chelsea career under a head coach who is also starting a new chapter at the club. Both the player’s move and the announcement of the Italian’s signing were part of the changes made around the beginning of July.
For now, Palestra’s public message about Alonso is centred on the atmosphere created by the new manager. The defender’s words indicate that the early response to the Spaniard’s appointment has been encouraging from his perspective, while also placing the focus on the relationship between Chelsea’s latest major signing and the coach now leading the team.
Alonso’s appointment followed the completion of the previous campaign, and Palestra’s arrival was announced in early July. Chelsea’s near-€60m agreement with Atalanta completed the transfer of the Italian right-back, who has now spoken about adapting to life and work under the club’s new head coach.
