Alonso has become Chelsea‘s sixth permanent manager in four years since American owners BlueCo, led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, took charge.
Before him, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior held the role of head coach rather than manager.
Insiders consider the manager title a meaningful step up, even though Alonso will still work closely with the club’s five-person sporting director group on player recruitment.
Asked if the designation gives him more authority, Alonso emphasized collaboration, saying decisions are made together and responsibility is shared.
He said the objective is clear and that this is how the club should function.
Alonso believes the team is on the right path, with a solid base and a good squad already in place.
The focus now, he added, is on smart reinforcement and aligned decision-making with the sporting directors to build the right squad.
Chelsea missed out on European football after a final-day defeat away to Sunderland, finishing 10th in the Premier League.
That outcome has prompted efforts to trim the squad, while the disappointing finish meant standout players such as Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro were overlooked for World Cup selection.
Pre-season has given Alonso extra time on the training ground, with most of his squad already available. He has also seen Palmer return hungry and positive after missing an England call-up.
So far, Alonso says, Palmer has arrived with an upbeat mindset and a desire to enjoy his football.
He described Palmer as a special, top-class talent and believes that building a team to showcase his strengths will move them closer to success.