- 9 hours ago
Rumour has it that Xabi Alonso will be the next manager in the Chelsea hot seat! But how will the Spaniard cope with the Premier League? And what will his Chelsea set up look like? From his Gegenpress style to attacking width, Jacob Horsfall is here to bring you the tactical lowdown on exactly how Xabi Alonso can transform Chelsea.
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00:00Xavi Alonso's tactics could be perfect for Chelsea Football Club. He could be the one to finally make it click
00:07But how exactly is he gonna do that?
00:09Well from his suffocating on-board pressure to getting the most out of Chelsea stars
00:14I'm Jacob Halls for 442's resident tactician and this is how Chelsea could dominate under Xavi Alonso
00:23Before we get into which players get in where we first got to understand
00:27Alonso's managerial philosophy the more passes we make on the opponent's half the better position
00:33We'll be in to gigan press is a direct quote from Xavi Alonso pressure and suffocation is a core part
00:39of his football and ideas
00:41No Bundesliga side won possession in the final third more than Alonso's Leverkusen in the 2023
00:4624 season now that would suggest that he potentially prioritizes out of possession setups more than actually being a dominant
00:54on-ball team
00:54But that's not exactly true because the in-possession stuff is what makes the out-of-possession stuff
01:00So easy in buildup he can set up in a 2-4 looking to pin the opposition's midfield line back
01:05and keep them nice and narrow
01:07But if I'm honest with you, there's not really a set way that Alonso sets up positionally in buildup
01:12He can often opt for a flat four with a greater overload on the last line again trying to pin
01:17the opposition as deep in their own half as
01:20Physically possible the end goal with these buildup is to eventually get into a 3-2-5 with lots of
01:25pressure on the last line
01:26This position here is arguably one of the most important
01:29During Alonso's time at Leverkusen Grimaldo often found himself in that position in two seasons
01:35He racked up over 30 goal contributions which highlights the attacking impetus that Alonso does put on those wide players
01:43those
01:43Wing backs in a sense once they'd escape pressure and form that 3-2-5 Grimaldo would have a hold
01:49the width creating small pockets for these four to arrive into or
01:53He'd occupy that area himself often pulling two defenders with him and letting Leverkusen overload the opposition's box
02:00But the important thing about all of that is that Alonso always made sure Grimaldo's movement was rotating around the
02:06ball's position
02:06He always wanted Grimaldo to be in short distance from the ball so they could play those short distance passes
02:12Because yes, the 3-2-5 opens up triangles and areas that you can look to overload
02:17But every lane also has a Leverkusen player
02:20The striker here is occupying the non-ball side centre-back which allows for that diagonal play into him
02:25The deeper midfielders cover the mid zone and the two more advanced midfielders act as connectors in the middle of
02:31the opposition's half
02:32Which is why Alonso's sides have always had so much possession because they always have a passing option
02:37Because the players are in those key zones, but not too far away from one another
02:43Which also means if they do lose the ball well
02:45We can just surround the ball like hound dogs because they're all about five yards away from each other
02:50At Madrid he adapted things slightly in advanced position
02:53They'd often have more of a back two with sure many having that sort of auxiliary role coming in and
02:58out of the back line
02:59Depending on where the ball is positioned now
03:01Obviously that's because Real Madrid were punching down on nearly every single team they face
03:05So they had to get many players forward to actually breach the opposition's low blocks
03:09Which is probably the end goal for Chelsea Football Club
03:12But right now I think we're going to be looking at more of the Bayer Leverkusen iteration of Alonso Ball
03:18We're coining another term this week, Alonso Ball, get it in the dictionary
03:22But back onto Chelsea and this 3-2-5 is going to be how I'm going to build the team
03:26Because that's probably what we're going to see the most of under Xavi Alonso if he arrives at Stamford Bridge
03:31Now the first position we've got to get out of the way is the goalkeeper
03:34And let's be honest, it is Roberto Sanchez
03:37Now he is someone I've been critical of due to the high volume of mistakes
03:40But he is still a top keeper
03:43I think more often than not he will pull off some ridiculous saves
03:46He does just have that slip up in him
03:48Which obviously knocks him down in a few people's pecking orders
03:51Nevertheless, Sanchez is going in goal
03:54Which leaves us with the back line
03:55And these two players are so important
03:57Because they have to split wide and cover the flanks
03:59To facilitate the pushing on of other players
04:01As they try to create a sort of net in the opposition's half
04:05Levi Colwell is one of our options for a centre half
04:07And he's someone for me who is so, so key to the present and future of Chelsea Football Club
04:12He has a unique ability to get on the ball and fire through the lines
04:16Like, to be honest with you, no other Chelsea defender
04:19Which has been a huge problem for Chelsea
04:21His absence has meant teams have just pressed Chelsea like no tomorrow
04:25And been able to win the ball back high
04:27And then punish Chelsea's back line
04:29For me, I'd have him in at central centre half
04:31He is certainly dominant in the duels
04:33But this position allows for lots of dialogue with the midfields
04:37Whilst he probably doesn't fit those two wide positions
04:40Because of how wide they actually end up being
04:42Leaving us to decide on his partners
04:44But as I've said, those roles are a little bit different
04:47Those wider centre halves will be encouraged to step out and be aggressive in their positioning
04:51In possession, they may step to form triangles in the opposition's half
04:54But also out of possession
04:56They may step to cover for the wide player being in an advanced position
04:59So, I'd go with Rhys James and Jor-El Haiso in those positions
05:04Now, don't get me wrong
05:05There's a valid shout to say Joshua Shempong should be in this team going forward
05:09And Rhys James does also have the ability to maybe be more of that right wing back
05:13Operating it in that wide position because Rhys James is a ridiculous footballer in all thirds of the pitch
05:19However, as we discussed, these players need to be comfortable stepping in
05:22And against lower opposition, Rhys James gives you that penetrative pass
05:25And the driving power to break through teams
05:28Now, on the other side on that left centre back area
05:30Haiso has been relatively mediocre since joining Chelsea
05:33But I do think the fact he's left footed does give us a lot of benefit by playing him
05:38Whether it's going to be utilising the angle to play into the centre
05:41Or to be able to step forward and link up on the left
05:43I think he brings a lot of benefit with the in-possession stuff
05:47Now, that leaves us with the wide players, which I think are relatively easy
05:50We're going to go with Cucurea and Malagusto
05:53Now, before people go mad, Rhys James over Malagusto is 100% valid
05:58But I think in a pure profile fit and getting the best out of both players within this system
06:05Gusto at right wing back makes sense
06:07For Cucurea, it's perfect
06:09Alonso likes his wide left player to rotate around the ball
06:11Whether that be running behind or inverting inside
06:14Now, fortunately, Marco Correa can do both of those things to a very, very high level
06:19His movement in the attacking third is some of the best we've actually seen
06:22By any Chelsea left winger this season
06:24Now, that's absolutely absurd that it's the case
06:27But it is
06:29It really, really is
06:31Then, obviously, we've got Gusto on the right
06:33Now, again, I can hear you
06:34Gusto's been pretty poor for a long while now
06:36I know a lot of Chelsea fans that don't necessarily rate him
06:39But he's basically a runner
06:41That's what his role will be
06:43Jeremy Frimpong was so, so rated in Germany
06:46But his role was holding the weight, stretching the opposition's defence
06:50Now, you throw Gusto in here
06:51And I think someone who can stretch the defence
06:53Someone who can relentlessly run
06:55Fits him
06:56That's what Gusto is
06:57Maybe he isn't the profile of player
06:59Who can get on the ball loads
07:01Who can tear people on
07:01Who can operate on the inside
07:03But I don't think you'll need to do that
07:05So, he's serviceable for me
07:07Now, the next port of call is the midfield
07:09And let's be honest
07:10It's an absolute tapping
07:12Moises Caicedo comes in
07:13And he is perfect
07:15The idea of counter-pressing over short distances
07:18Suits Caicedo perfectly
07:19In scenarios where he's closer to being in a 50-50
07:22Or having to deal with a player who's carrying very close toward him
07:25Then he wins almost every single time
07:28I also imagine him in that midfield area
07:31Dropping back to the backline
07:32Similar to the way Schuermeni was doing at Madrid
07:35If Chelsea need him to
07:36Which again is great
07:37I think Caicedo's such a complete footballer
07:39Even if the wider scope of fans don't give him the credit for it
07:43He is so much better at actual football
07:46Than he's giving credit for
07:47He's not just a shin kicker or ball winner
07:49He's so good in possession
07:51But that leaves us with his partner
07:53Who again it's simple
07:53We're going with Enzo Fernandes here
07:55Now that does depend on if he stays at Chelsea Football Club
07:58There's a few rumours saying he could leave in the summer
08:00But if he does stay
08:02I really like that fit
08:04This position would help Fernandes step away from the intensity slightly
08:07Whilst also getting so much of the ball
08:10Because this season I would say his best football
08:12Probably came as a number 10
08:14Where he can get into the final third
08:15Where he can get touches on the ball
08:16But he's not required to be a heavy jeweller
08:19He's not someone who's constantly legging it up and down the pitch
08:23Which again I think suits him
08:25However Enzo deep does definitely have potential
08:28Him in this position would allow him to set the tempo
08:30By playing those passes through the lines
08:32Finding players
08:33Which Alonso would make sure he always has someone to find
08:36At the current moment
08:38I think he's struggled to operate in that deep ball role
08:40Because of the intensity that it's required
08:42Under the likes of Liam Rossini
08:43So throw him into a more static role
08:45Where he can be that sort of player
08:47Who's receiving it and getting lots of touches on the ball
08:49But more exclusively looking to fire through the lines
08:52Rather than doing a lot of heavy running
08:53And I think you get yourself a top top midfielder
08:57Speaking of top
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09:29And let's be honest
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09:30But for now
09:31Let's get back to the video
09:32The front three isn't necessarily a conventional front three
09:35Under Xavi Alonso
09:36These two are expected to operate as wingers
09:39Moving in behind and rotating with wide players
09:41But also like centre forwards
09:43Getting into the box and exploiting the space
09:45That the actual centre forward opens
09:47And they're also expected to be another midfield line
09:50Dropping into the pockets and receiving on the half turn
09:52It's a very complicated and challenging role
09:55But it's a very important one
09:56Especially when you consider
09:58Xavi Alonso likes his players in them positions
09:59To be wrong footed
10:01To play on the opposite side of their actual foot
10:04The fact that they're wrong footed
10:05Allows them to play reverse passes from the half spaces
10:08And play in swinging balls to the back post
10:10Florian Verts on the left
10:12And Amin Adli on the right
10:13Took up those roles at Leverkusen
10:15So for me
10:16I'd up for Esteval on the left
10:17And Parma on the right
10:19In this Chelsea version
10:20Esteval has been so bright for Chelsea so far
10:23And is dynamic enough
10:24To operate in that half space role
10:26Get it on the half turn
10:27But also
10:28Be a little bit relentless
10:29In his desire
10:30To take the opposition defenders on
10:32So you slot him in at that left turn area
10:35Which leaves us with the other one
10:36And that is gonna obviously be Cole Parma
10:39These number 10 roles
10:40If you'd like to call them that
10:41Give the player sort of a sense of freedom
10:44Within the system
10:45Which I think someone like Cole Parma
10:47Could definitely do with
10:49His four open play league goals this season
10:51Aren't just a random fall off
10:53He does just struggle to operate
10:54Under a positionalism manager
10:56Which I suppose Xavi Alonso probably still is
10:58But I think he does give freedom
11:01To those attacking front three players
11:02To operate with a bit of autonomy
11:04Within the system set up
11:06So that means Parma comes in
11:08With Willy Nesteval obviously next to him
11:09And I think that works very very nicely
11:11Especially for Cole Parma
11:13But now we need a striker
11:14Who's going up tough
11:15Well I'd love to create a little bit of suspense
11:18I'd love to say
11:18Oh what about Nicholas Jackson
11:21But then I'd be lying to you
11:23And I don't want to do that
11:25But Jao Pedro is the man who's going up front
11:27It's the obvious option
11:28It's the only option
11:30The role of an Alonso striker is pretty simple
11:32They will often operate on the opposite side of the ball
11:34Looking to rarely be involved with build up
11:36But pinning opposition players
11:37To create better situations for other players across the pitch
11:41However
11:41That's more so a Leverkusen Alonso striker
11:44When he went to Madrid
11:45Kylian Mbappe
11:46Obviously
11:47Changed that
11:48Because Mbappe wants to be on the ball
11:50He would drop into the pocket on the ball side
11:52To facilitate that
11:53And you'd see these two advanced central players
11:55Move away from the ball
11:57To either attack the space in behind
11:58Or to simply pin the opposition's defence
12:01The latter use is how I see Alonso looking to use Pedro at Chelsea
12:05Jao Pedro is technically strong enough to come in and join link up play
12:09Whilst Anestaval can go in beyond
12:11I do really think that that works
12:13So as a manager real fit
12:15I think this is really really nice
12:17I think Chelsea could be getting themselves a manager
12:18Who can finally make it work
12:20It's not going to be easy
12:21And it never ever is
12:23A Chelsea football club under Bluecoe
12:25But let me know
12:25Is Alonso the right man for their job
12:27Or should someone like Cesc Fabregas be being considered
12:30I've been Jacob Halls for
12:31This has been 442
12:32And I'll see you again next week
12:33For more brilliant analysis as always
12:36A Chelsea football club under Bluecoe
12:36A Chelsea football club under Bluecoe
12:37A Chelsea football club under Bluecoe
12:37A Chelsea football club under Bluecoe
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