Today, most owners want to see their team play an exciting and expansive brand of football, and Chelsea’s are no different.
It is why Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali have hired the likes of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
While things never worked out for Rosenior, the 41-year-old and Maresca are young modern-day coaches who play a proactive and attacking style of football. However, one Chelsea sporting director has suggested that the club should move in another direction next season.
Xavi’s win rate is impressive – would you take him at Chelsea?
He's won 156 of 244 games.
Dave Fallows thinks Chelsea play better in a defensive, counter-attacking set-up
Journalist Simon Phillips has claimed on Si Phillips Talks Chelsea that Fallows has been in the ears of the Chelsea owners about the team’s playing style.
According to Phillips, Fallows believes Chelsea are at their best when they are defensively organised and focus on counter-attacking, which he has told Boehly and Eghbali.
His words could now impact the manager the Blues choose as Rosenior’s successor, meaning that Fallows could end up having an indirect impact on how the team play next season.
Eddie Howe’s name has been mentioned, and his Newcastle team are renowned for being well-organised and dangerous on transition.
Whether Chelsea fans would be open to that kind of manager coming to Stamford Bridge remains to be seen.
Xabi Alonso could be best suited to what Dave Fallows wants
Based on Fallows’ suggestion, Xabi Alonso could be the best option for Chelsea. The former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager is not necessarily a defensive coach.
However, he used a back three at Leverkusen, which does help with defensive organisation. Alonso also utilised Jeremie Frimpong as a right wing-back, with the Liverpool man proving to be a massive threat on the counter-attack.
Jeremie Frimpong at right wing-back? Reece James in central defence? Let Xabi Alonso cook! 🔥
TalkingPoints user on Jeremie Frimpong
Photo by Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Overall, Alonso looks like quite a balanced coach, and that is probably what Chelsea need right now. Chelsea just need to convince Alonso, which may be easier said than done. It is thought that the Spaniard and several other candidates for the job have reservations.
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