Xabi Alonso Shakes Things Up: Longtime Chelsea Coach Gets a Surprising New Role on Matchday Team!

CHELSEA have removed set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva from Xabi Alonso’s coaching staff and given him a new role.

The Mexican, 38, has been the first team set-piece coach since joining from two years ago.

Xabi Alonso started as Chelsea boss on July 1 Credit: Getty Chelsea paid £1m to prise Bernardo Cueva away from Brentford in 2024 Credit: AFP

Cueva will now no longer be part of the matchday staff, or present in the training sessions at Cobham.

His new role will see him work as a set-piece analyst and advisor, supporting Alonso and his staff in a behind the scenes role.

Alonso has brought long-time assistant Sebastian Parrilla with him to West London. The Argentine, 48, has worked alongside the new Blues boss for his entire coaching career and is a set-piece specialist.

They worked together at Real Sociedad B, before Parrilla moved with Alonso to , where they won the double, and then .

Parrilla was previously a coach in the Real Madrid academy system.

Former manager , who left after a year in charge, clashed with the ownership over the addition of a set-piece coach.

However, under and , Cueva was a constant presence in the dugout and in training sessions.

The Mexican was a firm fixture under Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

Blues sources insist Cueva has not been demoted and will still play a crucial role at the club. The new role does not include any work for sister club Strasbourg in .

Chelsea paid Brentford around £1million to hire Cueva from their London rivals in 2024.

Alonso’s full staff is yet to be formally confirmed, however, it is understood Alberto Encinas, Benat Labaien and Ismael Camenforte Lopez are following the Spaniard to London.

Calum McFarlane, the former Under-21 boss who took interim charge of the first team after both Maresca and Rosenior departed, is staying as part of the coaching staff under Alonso.