Comment: Why Xabi Alonso Got Chelsea Approach Wrong In Tottenham Defeat

Xabi Alonso will have a lot of answering to do in the fallout from Chelsea’s shocking 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham in the Premier League.

Following the news that Joao Pedro would miss the game due to an injury, which Chelsea currently describe as “being assessed”, the Blues boss opted to play without a natural striker and decided to deploy Morgan Rogers up front.

The home side were second-best for the majority of the first half and were lucky to reach half-time with the match still all square, giving them a chance to regroup. Alonso ignored the warning signs, despite repeated indications that his side were struggling.

Chelsea were being overrun, struggling to retain possession and offering little control in midfield. A change at half-time was inevitable. Instead, the Spaniard continued to persist with a game plan that was being held together by a piece of string.

With over an hour on the clock, the west London side still showed no signs of improvement, and there was no attacking intent in the substitutions. Estevao Willian came on for the final 20 minutes, but the only recognised number nine in the matchday squad remained on the bench.

Despite countless warnings, the visitors took the lead through a Mike Penders own goal. The goalkeeper looked uncomfortable at times, but on a wet, greasy surface, goalkeepers are already at a disadvantage.

Fingers can be pointed at Chelsea’s set-piece coach, Austin MacPhee, who likely instructed the tactical decision to leave at least four players out of the penalty area for every Spurs corner.

At the other end of the pitch, the Blues had four corners, and not one was executed efficiently. Additionally, in the first half, Chelsea had a dangerous free kick on the edge of the box. Instead of testing the goalkeeper in wet conditions, a failed training-ground routine saw the phase of play comfortably reset.

The score quickly became 2-0, just 10 minutes later, as Penders was comfortably beaten from long range, adding further doubt over whether he has the capability to replace Emiliano Martinez in the short term. Prior to Tottenham’s second goal, Cole Palmer saw red following a stupid second bookable offence.

Alonso finally opted to bring on a striker in the 86th minute. Danny Welbeck’s introduction should have come at half-time, alongside Romeo Lavia.

With no attacking outlet to hold the ball up or provide a target for crosses, it begs the question: what was the Spaniard seeing on the touchline? Having managed just 30 per cent possession in the first half, the statistics reinforced just how little control Chelsea had over the game. Lavia, who has recently been in good form, could have been one possible solution. Instead, he was left as an unused substitute on a day when the Blues needed to neutralise the Tottenham midfield.

Saturday's defeat should serve as a learning experience for the newly appointed boss, exposing what must change if Chelsea are to compete consistently. However, with the Blues managing just 31 per cent possession across the 90 minutes, Alonso's handling of what should have been a golden opportunity against one of the worst Spurs teams in recent years leaves plenty to be questioned.

Tottenham exploited Chelsea’s lack of a natural number nine, identified the Blues’ vulnerability in aerial duels and pressed aggressively to give Alonso’s side little time or space on the ball. The result was a Chelsea team that struggled to establish control in midfield or offer any meaningful threat in attack.

Before the international break, Chelsea still have to face Liverpool in the cup and Manchester United at home in the league, before rounding things off with a trip to the north-east to face Sunderland. These three fixtures could add further pressure on Alonso, or they could provide a run of results that quickly puts the Tottenham disaster behind him.

Injuries to Martinez and Pedro, along with Palmer’s suspension, leave the cup tie at Anfield up in the air. Many supporters will still be hurting on Wednesday, and a cup exit would only deepen the disconnect further.

Chelsea’s squad depth remains a concern, but that cannot excuse a performance lacking control, urgency and tactical flexibility. Alonso must take responsibility for his decisions because the warning signs against Tottenham were there long before the visitors took the lead.