Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says his arrival at Stamford Bridge instead of Liverpool was "about timings".

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says his decision to join the club was "about timings". The Blues boss, 44, began work on the training pitch last week and - at his opening press conference on Monday - spoke of his desire to keep Enzo Fernandez at the club. It was the first opportunity to ask why Alonso, who won an array of honours as a player at Liverpool, including the Champions League in 2005, had not ended up managing his former club. Asked why he joined Chelsea rather than Liverpool in an interview with BBC Sport, Alonso said: "Well, it is about timings. "I am here today on my first day at Stamford Bridge, talking to you. I am looking forward to this challenge, a big challenge, and Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs and I am looking forward to having success here." It follows previous reporting by BBC Sport that Alonso had not been in contact with Liverpool in the weeks before taking the Chelsea job. Liverpool, meanwhile, had been expected to stick with manager Arne Slot when Alonso was appointed, before making the "difficult decision" to sack Slot after a trophyless second season in charge. Slot's replacement, Andoni Iraola, is a childhood friend of Alonso's from his native San Sebastian and shares the same agent.