What tactics might Alonso use at Chelsea?

Breaking news from the world of sport: What tactics might Alonso use at Chelsea? Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Chelsea will be Xabi Alonso's third senior managerial role after Bayer Leverkusen and Real MadridByUmir Irfan Football tactics correspondentPublished13 minutes agoThings have been rocky since BlueCo took over Chelsea in 2022, but former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has been entrusted to get the London club competing at the highest level again. Liam Rosenior failed to live up to the potential Chelsea thought he had, with many believing his relative inexperience played a part.

Alonso, 44, is only three years older but boasts an impressive body of work - taking over a Leverkusen side second from bottom before turning them into unbeaten Bundesliga champions the following season. His spell at Real Madrid ended after fallouts with several star players but the Spaniard will have learned valuable lessons from the challenges of such a high-profile environment. At the time of his dismissal his win percentage of 71.

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4% was the highest of any Madrid manager in the past decade. With this in mind, Sport takes a closer look at the rationale behind hiring Alonso and the managerial approach he will likely bring to Stamford Bridge. Adapting to the players in the squadIncreasingly, for many coaches, systems are less rooted in one specific formation.

Rather, modern coaches have a set of principles and beliefs they aim to drill into their squad. Alonso is one of these coaches. While at Real Sociedad's B team, he would often start in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 shape.

In his last season with Sociedad B, he had moved to 3-4-3, a formation he would become known for, using it to much success at Leverkusen. For Alonso, these decisions are informed by players - both his own and those of the opponents. At times, he has opted for a back five in order to match an opposition back-five system, as seen in Madrid's 1-0 win against Juventus in the Club World Cup.

Reactions and Expectations

At Leverkusen, with impressive wing-backs such as Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo, Alonso had wide defenders comfortable attacking high and wide. This made the decision to play with a back five on paper an easy one. At Madrid, the likes of Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Franco Mastantuono and Vinicius Junior provided the Spaniard with a variety of players capable of thriving out wide, and therefore Madrid often played with four at the back.

Out of possession, Leverkusen set up in an aggressive 5-2-3 shape that looked to step up and apply pressure, holding a high line. Real Madrid's midfielders and attackers struggled to apply these same ideas, lacking the intensity needed. There was also the added challenge of accommodating both Mbappe and Vinicius off the ball, something Alonso tried to do in a 4-4-2 shape.

Moving between back four and back five mid-gameWhether Alonso starts with a back four or back five, this shape is fluid.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.