Eden Hazard favoured Marcos Alonso to advance Chelsea’s attack at Bournemouth

Eden Hazard turned to Marcos Alonso more than any other player to keep the momentum on Chelsea’s attacks against Bournemouth. This says as much about Alonso as it does Hazard’s fellow forwards.

Eden Hazard made 14 passes to Marcos Alonso in Chelsea’s 3-1 win at Bournemouth on Saturday. It was only the third time this season that Alonso was Hazard’s top target, and that Hazard completed over 10 passes to his wing-back.

Eight of Hazard’s passes to Alonso were short lay-off passes in the middle third of the pitch. Of the remaining six, three were long passes switching play from right to left. The other three were vertical passes deep towards the byline. The lay-off passes were crucial for Chelsea playing the ball upfield, whether on a counter-attack or at a less urgent pace.

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Hazard normally distributes the ball to Diego Costa more than Marcos Alonso in the middle and final thirds. As the centre-forward, Costa should receive the ball from Hazard and hold up. This would allow Hazard and Pedro to accelerate up the pitch. Costa does not have enough pace to spearhead a counter-attack, but he should be able to muscle out some time and space.

Since January, though, Costa has put the brakes on many Chelsea counter-attacks. All too often he will go to ground upon (or even slightly before) first contact with a defender, seeking a foul instead of a counter. Costa has also been an easy target for dispossession, surrendering the ball within a few yards of receiving it.

A different chain of events leads to a similar outcome on Chelsea’s right side. Pedro’s first touch often slows Chelsea’s momentum on the break. Even if he brings the ball under control quickly, his overall lack of control results in a turnover or a loose ball. Chelsea then need to regain possession at the expense of their momentum.

Eden Hazard likely saw Marcos Alonso as the most reliable player to maintain Chelsea’s forward movement at pace. Alonso has the first touch, vision and the ground game to keep the attack sharp. He is most effective taking the ball towards the byline before crossing it into the box. Unfortunately, Chelsea too often have no striker lurking there. Alonso can also drive towards the box to set up Hazard, Costa, Pedro or Cesc Fabregas.

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Alonso’s turn at Hazard’s go-to outlet shows Alonso’s versatility and the importance of the wing-backs to Chelsea’s system (see also: Moses, V.). In the best case scenario, this is one more way Chelsea subtly adapt their play to keep their opponents off-balance. If this becomes a pattern, though, it is one more sign of other Blues picking up the slack for an increasingly unproductive Diego Costa.