Alonso: Fixture pile-up is our biggest obstacle
MARCOS ALONSO is well aware of Chelsea’s gruelling fixture schedule yet knows the worst is about to come.
Only Cesar Azpilicueta has played more than Alonso’s 1,466 minutes for the club this term. Alonso has started every match in the Premier League and the Champions League, with the only rest coming in the Carabao Cup.
It is a contrast to his debut campaign last season, when all the squad benefited from regular breaks due to no European football.
Chelsea’s form has fluctuated as they adjust to the greater demands.
Their run of four League wins must be treated with caution because it was only three weeks ago they were outplayed by Roma in the Champions League. The Blues were also disappointing in defeats by Burnley, Manchester City and Crystal Palace. Antonio Conte has rotated his first XI to handle the amount of games so it is no surprise they have struggled to be consistent. The problem is that starting with Qarabag in the Champions League tonight, Chelsea will play up to 21 fixtures in the next 74 days. That is based on them winning their League Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth to set up a two-legged semi-final and reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Much has been made of the fact they have a round trip of nearly 5,000 miles to play Qarabag before taking on Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
The 2,470-mile trip to Baku required a six-hour flight and was the club’s longest-ever away journey in Europe, adding to the demands on the players.
Alonso told Standard Sport: “It is going to be a tough period now, not just this week. Everyone knows how the Christmas period is in England.
“We will have a game every three days between now and the start of February. Sometimes we will not be 100 per cent but each player has to help the team. We have to be well prepared and very focused.
“Is the fixture schedule Chelsea’s biggest obstacle this season? Yes, there are so many matches. We are getting kicks in games, we get tired, so recovery is very important.”
Victory tonight will put Chelsea into the last 16 although Qarabag have improved since losing 6-0 to the Blues in September. After the 3-0 defeat by Roma, the mood at Chelsea has been lifted by the wins against Manchester United and West Brom.
Alonso added: “Yes, we have been playing with a bit more of a smile. We are in a good moment and have confidence to keep winning.”