According to a report by ESPN on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, in the aftermath of Chelsea's disheartening 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, John Obi Mikel has pled with the club's board to show patience with Xabi Alonso, stating that the Spanish manager is still a top talent who can lead a winning squad at Stamford Bridge.

Though he has growing concerns about the team's performance and tactical approach, the former Chelsea midfielder thinks Alonso deserves time to execute his ideas.

Playing poorly against their London rivals Tottenham, Chelsea lost badly over the weekend.

The Blues had trouble taking control of the match and Cole Palmer was sent off in the midst of it. Meanwhile, Alonso took heat for the players he picked and the delays in making substitutions.

Because Joao Pedro was out with an injury, Alonso tried to use Morgan Rogers up front, but it didn't work out. In addition to their defensive woes, Chelsea struggled to compete in the middle of the field.

On The Obi One Podcast, Mikel insisted that Alonso still possesses what the club needs to be successful.

In my opinion, Xabi Alonso is still an incredibly talented young manager. Let him have some time, I believe. I have complete faith in the future success of what he is attempting to create with this team. He needs time, that's all.

Mikel has defended Chelsea's manager but has voiced disapproval of the team's tactical setup, namely the midfield's role in protecting the defense.

According to the former Nigerian international, Chelsea's central midfield needs more defensive cover so that teams can't take advantage of opportunities around the back four.

We mention goals that have been leaked. We can point fingers at defense, but that system requires two holding players at the very least to keep the back four safe. You will be exposed, so that's a must-have.

Even though Chelsea had a lot of money to sign another midfielder, they didn't, leading Mikel to question the club's recruitment practices.

While Chelsea's offensive prowess has improved under Alonso, the club's defense is still a big question mark, as is the consistency of their midfield play.

Following the loss to Tottenham, the manager's decisions, especially his tactical changes in tough matches, are being closely examined.