Posting over Instagram regarding the current mood and sharing joyful moments have been the in-thing for soccer stars these days. Joining the bandwagon is new Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso, who posted a picture of him relaxing over an open fire at home after finishing his training last week. Unlike the old Mario Balotelli and other maverick players, his post was well-greeted by the Chelsea faithful after series of excellent performances under the club’s new 3-4-3 formation.
However, in the first few games, the Spaniard looked more like a peripheral figure on the bench and his price tag of £23 million was hugely questioned. Chelsea failed to make impactful performances against Liverpool and Arsenal, highly because the team’s backline were full of chaos. The breakthrough for Alonso came in the second half against Arsenal when he replaced fellow countryman Cesc Fabregas and deployed as a left wingback. The change of 3-4-3 formation and Alonso’s introduction seemed to be a temporary measure to the rest of the world but sure not for the former Juventus boss.
As Chelsea instantly improved with the fresh approach, so did Alonso. He has been one of Conte’s consistent performers, helping his side securing five clean sheets in the last five Premier League outings. The former Fiorentina man is given more license to move forward and is committed of dropping deep when defensive duties are needed. Along with Victor Moses on the right side, the movement of the wingbacks provide the Blues the capacity to create overloads in attack with technically gifted players like Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Pedro leading the line.
Moses might be the more attack-oriented of the two wingbacks yet Alonso did found the back of the net against Manchester United with a neat finish, a match that saw his team ran riot with a 4-0 score line. What’s more, he has created 9 chances so far and his average passing accuracy is commendable with 75%. Back to defensive measure, the 25-year old has won 12 tackles, made 22 clearances and 11 interceptions. As it stands currently, Alonso seems to be a template to follow for any young wingbacks out there.
It’s presumptuous to say that the west-London side barely misses any of their experienced defenders like John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic at the moment, as the 3-4-3 system is clearly not a favor of the month, it’s rather a flag-bearer.
Next up is a trip to the Riverside Stadium for an exciting encounter against Middlesbrough, newcomers who clinched a point at the Etihad Stadium in the closing minutes in their last league tie. The Boro will be shielded with a sheer amount of confidence going into the game, being unbeaten in the last three matches, which include draws against Manchester City and Arsenal yet Alonso and his teammates will be eyeing for maximum points.