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Three possible Marcos Alonso replacements for Chelsea

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

Union Berlin's Austrian defender Christopher Trimmel (L) and Leipzig's Spanish defender Angelino vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match RB Leipzig v Union Berlin in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on April 23, 2022. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by Ronny HARTMANN / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images)
Union Berlin's Austrian defender Christopher Trimmel (L) and Leipzig's Spanish defender Angelino vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match RB Leipzig v Union Berlin in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on April 23, 2022. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by Ronny HARTMANN / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s Spanish defender Marcos Alonso celebrates after scoring their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in London on May 19, 2022. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s Spanish defender Marcos Alonso celebrates after scoring their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in London on May 19, 2022. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images) /

Chelsea fans have now seen report that FC Barcelona is inquiring about left back Marcos Alonso. Alonso is someone who has divided the fanbase from his second season at the club. In his first season, many agreed he was one of the best left wingbacks in Europe, but as soon as he was moved to left back in a back four, it became an argument as to whether he was a decent left back, a rubbish defender or good one. The debate never quite ended, and soon, many fans came to hate Alonso for no reason at all. They often slandered him regardless of how well he performed. Alonso’s contract with Chelsea will expire in 2023, and while some fans cannot wait to see the back of the Spaniard, it is difficult to dispute that he has had a successful Chelsea career. Alonso has won almost everything—he’s just missing the Carabao Cup—with the Blues.

Alonso was key to Chelsea’s pressing, ball progression and chance creation last season. This is without mentioning his goalscoring either. According to fbref, Alonso ranked in the 91st percentile* for chances created per 90 amongst fullbacks in Europe’s top leagues. He also ranked in the 89th percentile for expected assists per 90 (xA90). In addition to this, the Spaniard ranked in the 96th percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 (SCA90) and in the 86th percentile for goal-creating actions per 90 (GCA90). Alonso ranked just in the 60th percentile for progressive passes per 90, which is not bad at all. In defense, he ranked in the 96th percentile for tackles in the final third, while ranking in the 90th percentile for pressures in the final third and interceptions per 90.

Alonso was a major reason as to why Chelsea secured the third spot in the Premier League table last season. He was also the Blues’ main left back throughout the campaign as Ben Chilwell was injured for about 80% of the season. Considering that no one knows which Chilwell is returning, in replacing Alonso, Chelsea may just be replacing its main left wingback. Keeping that in mind, here are three players Todd Boehly’s Blues could target to replace Alonso.

*-In the x percentile means the player performed better or has done more than x percent of players in that bracket. Therefore, being in the 90th percentile means doing better than 90% of players in that bracket.

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