Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Winstanley and Stewart for Chelsea
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images
Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea conceded plenty in the first half of last season, but Liam Rosenior’s men let more in than most. Calum McFarlane tried to stop the rot, getting a clean sheet in the FA Cup semi-finals.
READ MORE: Former Newcastle defender Federico Fernandez visits Martinez in hospital
Alonso bites back as Reid tells Chelsea boss, ‘I’m blaming you’
Despite Emi Martinez’s injury, which forced him off the pitch towards the end of the game, Chelsea kept Everton at bay, and finally, the hoodoo is over. A run of 22 Premier League games without a clean sheet.
Nine months, seven games of which have come under Alonso’s tenure. In each of the first five league games, Alonso watched Chelsea concede two or more goals, and then a fluky one against Bournemouth.
The return of Moises Caicedo has been key. But on Stadium Astro, Reid told Alonso to his face, ‘I’m blaming you’ for Chelsea’s lack of goals. Alonso’s response was classy, professional, and measured.
Reid said: “We were having a chat about the goals conceded. But today, the organisation, without the ball; different class. How come you’ve conceded that many when you have a team like that? I’m blaming you!”
Alonso replied: “It’s a process. You make mistakes, you analyse them, you work from them, you learn from them. For sure, we have seen an improvement, especially after the break against Bournemouth,” he said.
“We looked solid. Today was a professional performance that you need in these stadiums like Everton. They worked really hard; it’s not about playing nice, it’s about playing good; and today we played good.”
Now, the pressure is on Mike Penders ahead of Liverpool
Reports say that Martinez will be missing for 40 days after the World Cup winner went under the knife to correct a jaw injury. It is believed Martinez will now miss six games, including Liverpool on Wednesday.
Mike Penders, who replaced Martinez, became Chelsea’s youngest-ever Premier League goalkeeper by two weeks on Saturday. His introduction saw the Belgian beat former Blues stopper Lenny Pidgeley.
Now, he will be between the sticks at least until December, with Martinez also set to miss the November break with Argentina. Alonso will have to place his trust in a young goalkeeper, under huge pressure.