Some of Xabi Alonso's decisions have been called into question following Chelsea's disappointing 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The Blues struggled to make an impact in the London derby. The injured Joao Pedro was a significant blow, but the way Alonso decided to set his team up in the Brazil's absence has now come under scrutiny.
Rather than bringing in a recognised striker, the Chelsea manager opted to hand Geovany Quenda his first Premier League start, leaving Danny Welbeck among the substitutes. Morgan Rogers was deployed centrally, while Cole Palmer continued in an attacking role.
The gamble failed to pay off, with the hosts struggling to find their rhythm before the game slipped away from them in the second half.
Daniel Sturridge says Xabi Alonso got it wrong with Danny Welbeck
Former Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge believes Alonso made the wrong call by leaving Welbeck out of the starting line-up, arguing that the experienced forward could have helped the team maintain the attacking structure they had developed in recent weeks.
Speaking on Sky Sports, via Metro, Sturridge was clear in his assessment of the manager's selection.
"I think the manager got it wrong," he said.
The pundit acknowledged that Quenda is a talented young player but suggested his inclusion had forced a change that affected the players around him.
"Quenda is a very good young player, make no mistake, but I think the way in which the team have played in the last couple of weeks, they were prepared to play with Joao Pedro," Sturridge explained.
"For me, Welbeck should have started today," he concluded.
Chelsea need to find a solution when Joao Pedro is unavailable
Pedro's absence exposed a potential weakness in Alonso's attacking options, particularly when the manager decides against using a recognised centre-forward.
Rogers has qualities that make him dangerous in advanced areas, but asking him to lead the line is a different proposition. Without a striker to provide an outlet, Chelsea struggled to pose a threat consistently.
Welbeck eventually entered the contest in the 88th minute, by which point Tottenham had already scored twice and the game was already done.
Alonso defended his team after the defeat, accepting that Chelsea were not at their best and insisting that the players and coaching staff must share responsibility for the result.
However, the decision to leave Welbeck on the bench is likely to remain a talking point, especially after the attacking problems on display against their London rivals.
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