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Chelsea wingback Marcos Alonso in PFA Team of the Year with catches

By Travis Tyler

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Marcos Alonso of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his sides third goal during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Newcastle on January 28, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Marcos Alonso of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his sides third goal during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Newcastle on January 28, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea wingback Marcos Alonso made the PFA’s Team of the Year. But there are several catches about his inclusion that must be addressed.

The PFA has released its team of the year. Marcos Alonso is the sole Chelsea representative. He is also perhaps the most controversial inclusion.

That is according to the Twitter verse anyways. Many simply do not understand why he is being included. And the answer is simple; Alonso is there because the players voted him to be there.

Yes, the players voted for this team of the year. And who knows the players better than the people playing with or against them week in and week out? So yes, the simple answer is that Alonso is there because his opponents and teammates rate him as the best left (wing)back in the league.

That is not to say that Alonso did not have an easy ride into the accolade. Almost no left backs that can be compared to him have put together a complete season like Alonso has. Players from virtually every other Premier League team were either out of form or injured for part of the season. Alonso was not and had easy entry into the team of the year as a result.

Antonio Conte was asked about it during his pre-Burnley press conference. He was simply happy for him. But Conte went further and stated that he was “bad” in the Southampton match.

And that is where the PFA nomination has its biggest catch. Alonso is now facing a three game ban. Even if Chelsea appeal, he is sure to miss the Burnley match at the least. Conte has already confirmed Emerson Palmieri is set to start. Combine that with Conte calling Alonso out more publically than he ever has a player and the Spaniard should begin to sweat.

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Palmieri’s appearances with Chelsea have been brief yet promising. In each of the minutes he has played he has looked lively and intelligent. And he looked outstanding in his pre injury Roma days. Alonso is a very good player regardless of the narrative around him but he should worry about Palmieri being given an extended run on the back of Alonso’s “bad” performance.

Conte is entirely willing to drop a big name if he feels someone else will perform better. During his tenure, John Terry, Willian, Cesc Fabregas, David Luiz, Gary Cahill, Pedro and Alvaro Morata have all seen their time limited when other players picked up their game. Conte stated that Palmieri is probably not ready to play two games back to back but he could be set to start two of the three games Alonso will miss.

And Palmieri, if he builds on what he has already shown, could easily push Alonso out of the starting lineup as the season closes. And Alonso will have little opportunity for the rest of the season to fight his way back into the XI.

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So yes, Alonso is deservedly in the PFA Team of the Year even if he had an easy pathway into it. But due to his ban, that accolade might be the pinnacle of his season. Conte is willing to give Palmieri a chance and the Italian could find himself squeezing Alonso out for the remainder.

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