Alonso: We’ve got to be loyal to the boss’s style
MARCOS ALONSO believes Chelsea’s sudden slump is a result of not being ‘loyal’ to Maurizio Sarri’s style of play. The Spaniard admitted Chelsea are going through a ‘hard moment’ and called on his team-mates to perform as a unit again, beginning with Manchester City’s visit tomorrow. Chelsea slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Wolves despite leading and looking in control. And Alonso said: ‘We’re not doing very well at the moment. More individually than as a team, we have to get better as a collective. We had the chances to win at Wolves, we were controlling the game and started the second half having a couple of chances. But the last few games we were not loyal to our style of play and, maybe even if we didn’t deserve it, we lost.’
After starting the season by collecting 28 points from 12 games, Sarri’s team have lost twice in three matches and head into the weekend’s contest at Stamford Bridge 10 points behind leaders City. The successful Sarri-ball style of high possession and dynamic movement has become watered down in the early stages of winter. Alonso added: ‘We are going through a hard moment and you have to work very hard. We will try our best to improve as soon as possible.’ Sarri admitted he was ‘really worried’ by the lack of reaction in the second half at Molineux. He felt the mentality of his team was wrong. He then claimed Chelsea are in a ‘different category’ to Pep Guardiola’s team. ‘For me, City at this moment are the best team in Europe — maybe the best in the world,’ he said. And Alonso claimed City would provide immediate inspiration. ‘It’s the perfect opportunity to come back,’ he said. ‘Everyone will be very motivated to play. If we lose we are going to be 13 points from the top and that’s a lot. But we have to think, prepare for the game well and not pay attention to the table.’