Marcos Alonso provided essential two-way play in Chelsea vs. Burnley

Marcos Alonso put in a textbook performance of two-way play by a wing-back in Chelsea’s loss to Burnley. He had two of Chelsea’s best chances with long-range shots, and repelled Burnley’s attempts to add a fourth or run down the clock.

Marcos Alonso welcomes any competition among new transfers or existing teammates for his spot in the starting XI. His performance in Chelsea’s come-back effort against Burnley showed what any left wing-back hopeful is up against.

Alonso had more room going forward given Chelsea’s planned and unplanned absences. Alonso is normally the conduit to Eden Hazard up the flank. He can funnel the ball up from Gary Cahill or take it out from the midfielders. With Hazard injured, Alonso did not have his usual target man.

In the original game plan, he also had more responsibility to create and support on the left given Jeremie Boga’s inexperience. Rather than lay off passes into space for Hazard and then run an overlap, Alonso would have played more direct passes and then offered Boga an outlet.

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But after Boga came off for Andreas Christensen in the 18′ minute, the Blues were in a one- or two-man offence. This gave Alonso free rein over the forward two-thirds of the left side. As Chelsea pursued a comeback in the second half, Alonso pushed further up the pitch until he was effectively in the winger’s position.

Alonso had two of Chelsea’s six shots on target. One came from open play as Alonso moved in from his position on the left flank, and the other from a free-kick from Chelsea’s right. Alonso had power and movement on both shots, forcing Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton into full extension to make the saves. Heaton’s finger-tip saves on Alonso resulted in two of Chelsea’s eight corners.

Alonso’s three key passes were second only to Cesc Fabregas, and he was one of only three Chelsea players to complete a cross to his target. He finished with the highest pass accuracy of any Blue with over 15 attempts. On defence, Alonso had two tackles, one interception and four clearances.

Marcos Alonso should be Chelsea’s regular free kick taker. He puts the ball on target more reliably than David Luiz. He showed in the second half of last season and on Saturday that he has the accuracy, movement and power to put the ball in the net, or force a save that results in a corner kick or a rebound. If Willian can return to his 2015/16 levels of sharp-shooting, Chelsea have two significant threats – one right foot, one left foot – on free kicks.

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Marcos Alonso will likely play a more defensive role against Tottenham next Sunday, perhaps even as a left-back in a four-man defence. Antonio Conte increasingly needs that versatility from his players until Chelsea resolve their transfer situation. Even after they do, Alonso’s place on the left flank will remain his for as long as he continues this form.