What Xabi Alonso is encouraging his Chelsea team to do from the first minute
Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea side have quickly become renowned for scoring early goals.
Against Bournemouth at the weekend, they were already 2-0 up less than five minutes into the match. Jordan Henderson opened the scoring for Chelsea in the second minute before Morgan Rogers doubled their lead a minute later.
The Blues have been scoring early goals all season. Rogers needed just seven minutes to score in a 2-2 draw with Hull City, which came after his second-minute strike against Arsenal.
Xabi Alonso encouraging Chelsea to push up from the get-go
Alonso recently discussed Chelsea’s tendency to score goals in the opening minutes of games, but the Spaniard has refused to take credit for it. However, he is perhaps being a bit too modest.
According to the Daily Mail, Alonso has been encouraging his players to push up the pitch straight from kick-off. Whatever the case, the former Real Madrid manager will just be happy to see his side scoring.
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With Alonso unable to rely on his defenders to keep the opposition out, he needs goals. With that being said, Chelsea’s defending was much better against Bournemouth.
They only conceded one goal and nearly kept a clean sheet. It is the first time that has happened in the Premier League this term. The Blues let in two or three goals in all their other games.
There is no doubt that they have been helped by the return of Moises Caicedo. For Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson, Caicedo is the best defensive midfielder in the world.
Xabi Alonso itching for a last-minute winner
While Alonso will be glad to see his Chelsea team being so proactive in games and taking the lead early, he has admitted that a last-minute goal would not hurt!
Speaking in his press conference after the Bournemouth game, the ex-Bayer Leverkusen boss said: “Maybe I prefer to score the first one in the last minute. It will happen one day, hopefully.”
Chelsea play London rivals Tottenham Hotspur towards the end of the month. Everyone at the club would love to see a last-minute winner against them.
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