🚨 I was scathing in my recent assessment of Xabi Alonso at Chelsea pre-international break. But he has clearly been working on some positive things over the 3 week period as Chelsea switched to a back 4 without the ball against Bournemouth. It's important to acknowledge that it's not as simple as 'Alonso switches to a back 4 and Chelsea will have success'. No. It's about the implementation of it. Against Bournemouth, we saw Chelsea get much better pressure on the ball in certain moments. We see that here in the high press as Chelsea start in a 4-4-2 against Bournemouth's 4-3-3. Palmer releases to press Silva with good intensity and aggression. Henderson backs up the press as he screams at Pedro to release from the #6 to press the goalkeeper and centre back. Chelsea end up locking Bournemouth into a corner after successfully transitioning from a zonal 4-4-2 into a man-to-man press which sees them win the ball back. I will be the BIGGEST Xabi Alonso supporter in the world if these types of defensive behaviours become the norm at Chelsea. Zonal turned man-to-man pressing with ferocious intensity? BRILLIANT! 👏