Alonso: Lack of depth cost Chelsea title

CHELSEA defender Marcos Alonso fears a lack of squad depth may have cost the Premier League champions dear this season.

Antonio Conte’s team put up a better show against Barcelona in the Champions League than an aggregate 4-1 scoreline suggests, hitting the post and bar four times over the course of two games.

But Chelsea’s defence of their league title has been lame and they face a fight even to qualify for the Champions League next season as they currently sit outside the top four.

Asked what the problem has been, Alonso (above) said: ‘It’s difficult as there are so many games this year and we have not got the deepest squad, maybe, and we have had new players this year. We can only look forward and start fighting for fourth spot in the Champions League and try to win the FA Cup.’

Chelsea face Leicester away in the last eight of the FA Cup on Sunday so could yet end what would appear to be manager Conte’s second and last season at Stamford Bridge with a trophy. Understandably, though, the priority is the Premier League. Alonso added: ‘I think there’s been a lot of positives in both games against Barcelona and I think we have to show this desire in the next games and make sure that we win every game.

‘We showed until the last minute that we can play against any team and now we have eight finals and we have to make sure we play Champions League next year.’

Chelsea fear they will lose midfielder eden hazard and keeper thibaut Courtois if they fail to maintain their Champions League status. the pair are both stalling on signing new deals and Real Madrid are interested in both, while Paris Saint- Germain have made discreet overtures about a summer move for Courtois.

Privately, hazard is dreaming of a move to the Bernabeu and will pull out all the stops to complete a switch if Real formalise their interest this summer.