Chelsea Europa conference league plan under Xabi Alonso backed by Paul Merson, who says the competition will help the new manager assess his squad

LONDON, United Kingdom, May 22, 2026. Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has predicted that Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso could use the Europa Conference League as a key tool to evaluate his squad if the club qualifies for the competition next season.

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Merson made the comments in his column for Sportskeeda ahead of Chelsea’s final Premier League fixture against Sunderland on Sunday, offering insight into how the new manager might approach his early tenure at Stamford Bridge.

Xabi Alonso’s plan for Chelsea in the Europa conference league, according to Merson, would allow the Spanish coach to experiment with tactics and assess players across a broader squad depth.

“The Conference League will give Xabi Alonso the chance to improvise stuff,” Merson said.

“He can use that competition to find out more about his squad. For a new manager at a big club, that is an asset.”

Alonso, who has recently been appointed Chelsea manager, is expected to begin his tenure after the conclusion of the current season, with expectations already building around his tactical approach and squad management.

The former Real Madrid midfielder is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches following his impressive managerial spell in Germany.

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Chelsea fans will now be watching closely to see whether European qualification materialises and how Alonso plans to shape the team in his first season in charge.