Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
While Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea playing squad could still change before the transfer window shuts, his coaching staff have been completed with the hiring of Austin MacPhee.
The Blues have brought in MacPhee from Aston Villa after he gained plenty of plaudits for his set-piece routines created in the Premier League.
Chelsea fans got a sneak peek at this with Moises Caicedo’s fine volley from the edge of the box after a Romeo Lavia corner picked him out.
Pedro Neto of Chelsea
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Xabi Alonso fires shot at former Chelsea coach Bernardo Cueva
The club had previously spent big money to bring in Bernardo Cueva from Brentford to address set-pieces, however he has now moved to a role behind the scenes.
Alonso spoke to MenInBlazers about the hiring of MacPhee, and raved about his new coach, stating he now believes Chelsea have the ‘best possible specialist’ after the change.
Chelsea v Real Sociedad - Pre-Season Friendly
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He said: “We want to have the best possible specialist in the department, and for sure Austin has the experience of the Premier League.
“For us, as staff, it’s going to be challenging to learn quick and adapt to the Premier League, so that we have people around like Austin, Ben [Roberts], other people that were here last year, with this fresh experience from the Premier League, it helps a lot and we are happy that Austin is now with us.”
Todd Boehly and Mark Walter graphic
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Cueva’s troubled time as Chelsea’s set-piece coach
Cueva was spotted scrambling for ideas on a number of occasions when Chelsea conceded goals from set-pieces, and his tenure in the role was not as successful as many hoped it would be.
He had also clashed with Chelsea players and Enzo Maresca during his time in charge, with the hope being that there will be far more clarity with Alonso and MacPhee in the role.
The new coach has a job on his hands to help the Blues at both ends though. They conceded 19 goals from set-pieces in the Premier League last season.
They are becoming a far bigger opportunity for clubs to score every season, and Arsenal’s dominance in the previous campaign is what Chelsea will be striving to achieve this season.