Alonso held discreet meetings in London and his hometown of San Sebastian over three weeks in early May to ensure Chelsea was the right fit. The club's five sporting directors remain responsible for much of the operation, albeit in constant dialogue with Alonso and his staff. His role will be to provide experienced cover for Joao Pedro while also bringing a positive influence behind the scenes. It would be similar to the role Alonso played under Pep Guardiola towards the end of his career at Bayern Munich. Chelsea have previously suffered from indiscipline, a perceived softness defending set-pieces and, perhaps most importantly, a lack of leadership and dressing-room culture.