In a recent interview (via the Daily Mirror), Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso admitted that he has struggled to adapt to Maurizio Sarri’s style of play at Stamford Bridge and said, “He wanted to change the team not just me. He wanted to change the way. The way we start playing.
“It is different but at the end of the day and we have to be professional and take on whatever he asks us for. He is different.
“I started the season very well; the team also started very well playing. Then the manager asked me for something different.
“I tried to do what he was asking me to do and maybe when the team started winning games again I had a small injury in my back.
“I had to stop for a couple of games but after that, I was back playing good and getting back in the team when they needed me and now a big opportunity to end the season well and go on holiday.”
Alonso’s Defensive Struggles In The Premier League
Alonso has endured a difficult campaign for the Pensioners as his defensive capabilities have often been a subject of criticism from the media. He initially made a good start to this season but has since fallen off the pace and is currently not even a guaranteed starter in Sarri’s first-team.
The Spanish full-back has featured in 39 matches for Chelsea this term, scoring four goals while grabbing seven assists across all competitions. Even though his attacking returns are quite impressive for a full-back, yet he has struggled with the defensive side of his game. Alonso has often been caught ball-watching when not in possession of the ball, which is a weakness he needs to rectify if he wants to taste success again in English football.
He has made an average of 2.2 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 2.6 clearances per game for the West London giants thus far (Stats taken from Whoscored).
What Does The Spaniard Add To Sarri’s Team?
Alonso is a decent dribbler with the ball at his feet and is also excellent at linking up play with his teammates. He has proven in the past that he can step up and score important goals for Chelsea going forward. At the same time, the Spanish full-back is also a liability in defence as he doesn’t do a decent job of tracking runs made by the opposing attackers.
Does Alonso Have A Future At Chelsea?
One can argue that the full-back’s recent comments are just excuses from him for not performing well on the pitch during this season. However, he will have an excellent opportunity to prove his doubters wrong when Chelsea clash heads with their London rivals, Arsenal in the UEFA Europa League final which is set to be held at the Olympic Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan.
A match-winning performance in the final could go a long way in determining whether he has a long-term future at Stamford Bridge.
