Jamie Carragher has raised concerns over Maxence Lacroix in Chelsea's defence under Xabi Alonso, suggesting the £52 million summer signing has failed to look comfortable.
The French defender arrived at Stamford Bridge from Crystal Palace with a strong reputation after impressing in Oliver Glasner's back-three system. However, Alonso's tactical demands have given him a different challenge, with Chelsea switching between a back three and a back four during matches.
Lacroix has featured in all eight of Chelsea's Premier League fixtures this season, but his performance in Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Spurs has come in for criticism.
With defensive issues continuing to undermine the Blues, questions are beginning to emerge over whether the 26-year-old is the right fit for the system Alonso wants to implement.
Jamie Carragher questions Maxence Lacroix under Xabi Alonso
Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, via Metro, Carragher explained why he had doubts about Lacroix's ability to adapt to Chelsea's defensive approach.
"I really liked him at Crystal Palace in a back three," the former Liverpool defender said.
"I was seeing him pressing man-to-man, and everyone was jumping out, and it just didn't look comfortable to me, or mobile enough to be in a back four and jumping out of man-to-man marking and jumping out to James Maddison."
His criticism centres on the difference between playing as part of a back three and being asked to defend more aggressively in a four-man defence.
Alonso's system requires defenders to step out and that leaves for error when the opposition moves the ball quickly, and Carragher wasn't convinced Lacroix has adapted to those demands.
Chelsea's defensive problems run deeper
Carragher also questioned the overall quality of Chelsea's defensive options, arguing that the club still lacks a standout centre-back capable of organising the backline and providing consistency.
"They're the same, six out of 10, seven out of 10," he said. "There's still not got that somebody you build your defence around or who can hold it all together. It just looks very average."
There was some good news though. The pundit did praise Josh Acheampong for his early performances at right-back under Alonso.
Nevertheless, Chelsea have struggled to find consistency at the back despite investing heavily in the squad. Alonso's changing defensive shapes have also placed different demands on his players, making it so the players must adapt.
Lacroix will have an immediate opportunity to respond when Chelsea face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. The defender has already insisted the team want to show a reaction after the defeat to Spurs.
Add us as a preferred source on Google