Chelsea will start their Premier League season at Fulham on Monday, with Xabi Alonso in the dugout and the club hoping his arrival marks an end to years of disarray.
A change of direction at Stamford Bridge
Alonso represents a brave new world for Chelsea. The Chelsea boss is a change of direction for a club which has moved from potential to proven talent in an effort to get back to winning the biggest trophies.
What is also exciting about Alonso is that the former Bayer Leverkusen manager arrives at Stamford Bridge with plenty to prove after his ill-fated time at Real Madrid. The shift in transfer policy this summer has been stark, from a club buying up young stars to sell for profit in the future to record-breaking deals and experienced leaders.
Morgan Rogers set a new record for an English player when his £117million deal took him from Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge. Just as eye-catching have been Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson because the 30-something veterans are at complete odds with what has gone before under the club's current hierarchy.
Experienced heads to set the tone
Under Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, Chelsea have bought so many players that the club lost its identity and direction. Welbeck and Henderson are clever deals because they have been brought in to add experience, character and leadership in the dressing room.
They have been acquired to set the tone, and that will be invaluable for Alonso, who knows the value of strong characters. Alonso is familiar with the Premier League - although he actually left Liverpool as a player in 2009 - but is even more aware of the need for the right culture at a club.
There were strong characters at Anfield during his time there, like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, while at Leverkusen one of his best signings was Granit Xhaka because of his leadership.
A fresh start after Real Madrid setback
Alonso shook up German football and led Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title, marking himself down as one of Europe's brightest and best young coaches. This is not a manager who necessarily played fast, exciting football, but he is very tactical, shrewd and methodical. Maybe that is a factor as to why Alonso may be a better fit for Chelsea than Liverpool.
But Alonso's stint at Real ended badly after just eight months as he struggled to get results or the best out of a star-studded dressing room. It was a huge coup when Chelsea appointed Alonso, and they have brought in a manager who was sensational at Bayer Leverkusen, had a setback in Madrid and now has a huge opportunity at Stamford Bridge.
They have a sensational forward line which has been boosted by Rogers but also boasts Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian and Cole Palmer. Chelsea's forward options are arguably as good as anything in the Premier League.
Single-game weeks could prove decisive
Moises Caicedo remains one of the best midfielders of his type in Europe, and Maxence Lacroix is a smart signing to stiffen the defence. Chelsea would not want to be out of Europe this season, but the fact is they are, and that means they can just concentrate on the Premier League.
The one game a week routine is a huge advantage over all of their rivals because of fatigue, burnout and also the hangover from the World Cup. That will be a huge factor for the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and the rest because Chelsea's squad will be fresh and ready for the games on the weekend.
This is an exciting new chapter for Chelsea, a new challenge for Alonso and a change of direction for the club as a whole. With proven talent and a top manager with plenty to prove, they could be genuine challengers this season.
