Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso has revealed he feels the freedom to play football this season, after he returned to his ‘natural’ position in the left full back.
Under Antonio Conte in the past two seasons, Alonso played in the left wing back role in a 3-5-2 formation that seemed to give him the freedom to march forward in attack, but also had strict rules in falling back when the team loses possession. Although not too different from what we see of Alonso in the current Sarri ball, the Spain international just likes the fact he has returned to a more comfortable position on the left.
“All my life I had played in a back-four, at Real Madrid Castilla and at Bolton. This is me going back to my natural position. I’m very happy with Sarri’s new system. I am just as happy or even happier than I was in Conte’s 3-5-2.’
Perhaps with Conte I was closer to the other team’s goal. He liked both wingbacks to get very high up the pitch. Now it is more about the element of surprise, arriving from deep and doing it when the other fullback has not gone forward. It depends on how the game is going. If the team needs help then we take more risks.”
Marcos Alonso, Daily Mail
The 27-year old looks set to play for Spain in the current squad after Luis Enrique dropped Jordi Alba from the squad to play England in the left back role, and says there are similarities between his club and country bosses.
Things are working really well with Sarri. I am very happy and with Luis Enrique I can see many similarities. It’s modern football – having the ball, controlling the game, and being well positioned when you lose possession. Both when you defend and when you attack it needs to be about possession and positioning is vital. The Chelsea training sessions are like the Spain ones – possession, bringing the ball out, lots of similar concepts.
Alonso missed out on the World Cup after Julen Lopetegui dropped him from the squad to travel to Russia.
