Chelsea: Emerson must start over Marcos Alonso when it matters

The leftback debate has been a hotly contested one among Chelsea fans but really there is little argument: Emerson is better than Marcos Alonso.

Marcos Alonso has made it clear he is not suited for Maurizio Sarri’s style of play, yet he plays nearly every game. Alonso lacks pace, physicality, skill on the ball, you name it. The facts are Alonso was a panic buy and a stop gap until Chelsea found their next leftback.

Initially, Alonso had many fans. When he first came to Chelsea, he was playing in the left wingback position, the same position he played at his previous club Fiorentina. The wingback position is where Alonso is accustomed to playing and it is the position that suits his style of play.

There, Alonso could involve himself in the attack and not worry so much about his defensive responsibilities because there was always three centerbacks ready to cover for him. Also, at this time Alonso was banging in free kicks regularly – that will always keep a player in the XI.

The Spaniard’s attack first, defend second mentality worked well under Antonio Conte’s reign where he deployed a wingback system. But Sarri’s 4-3-3 calls for true fullbacks. That is where Emerson comes in. Emerson has hardly been given a look under Sarri this season, even though Alonso has been dreadful.

Thursday against Spurs, Chelsea fans caught a glimpse of what a leftback capable of linking up with Eden Hazard looks like. Emerson was flying up and down the wings creating chances.

Alonso is not a bad player by any means, but he just does not fit Sarrismo like Emerson does. Emerson provides the linkup play that Hazard craves and that Alonso lacks heavily. Marcos Alonso is almost entirely left-footed, as can be seen when watching him dribble or pass. There is almost no right foot usage unless it is absolutely impossible for him to use his left. Then when Alonso dribbles, his awkwardness shows he is not comfortable on the ball in space.

However, Emerson is very comfortable on the ball and can use both feet effectively. Emerson can dribble down the wing and create chances, and he is much quicker than his counterpart.

For Chelsea, it is really a game of “pick your poison”. Emerson is far better than Alonso. Neither, however, are good enough to be Champions League quality if this squad can qualify in one of the top four spots this season.

The left and rightback positions have been a problem for Chelsea since Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanovic left the club. Chelsea had a world-class leftback for a short time in Filipe Luis, but (for some unknown reason) the board decided to sell Luis right back to Atletico Madrid just months after buying him. Both Emerson and Alonso will have to serve as the team’s leftbacks until the club sorts itself out and gets itself a Marcelo or Alex Sandro.

Hopefully by this point Sarri has seen enough of Emerson to start him Wednesday against Bournemouth. But as stubborn as he has been with team selections thus far, it is best not to get too excited for it.