No Striker Up Front, No Goalkeeper in Goal: Alonso’s Revolutionary Invisible Football

 

Chelsea suffered a humiliating home defeat to a low-form Tottenham Hotspur. Before the match, João Pardo was injured, and Alonso deployed a strange "False Nine" formation, with Rogers upfront as the striker. Quenda, who had never played on the right wing before, started on the left, while Hato played on the right. Heavy rain left the pitch slippery, making it impossible to execute fluid ground attacks. Furthermore, the frontline's attack heavily relied on the individual brilliance of the forward players. Currently, the Blues have no tactical cohesion or set pieces prepared before matches, except for yielding possession to play on the counter-attack; everything relies entirely on the players' sudden flashes of inspiration. Under normal circumstances, when individual abilities can be fully utilized, this poses no problem. However, when faced with unexpected emergencies, given Alonso's capabilities, defeat becomes inevitable.

Quenda showed more courage than tactical awareness, repeatedly rushing out to press and frequently losing possession. Hato is strong in attack but weak in defense, so his inclusion to assist in defense was bound to leave gaping holes everywhere. By not starting Vebjerk as the natural center-forward, Rogers was forced into an uncomfortable position leading the line. Pardo was forced to juggle both attacking and defensive duties on the left wing, while Acheampong was left overwhelmed by Tottenham's relentless overlapping runs. Throughout the match, Tottenham heavily targeted the Blues' vulnerable right defensive flank, which ultimately led to goalkeeper Mendes mishandling a corner from the right and punching the ball into his own net. Unable to mount successful counter-attacks, Cole Palmer got into a confrontation with an opponent and was sent off with a straight red card, after which the Blues conceded a second goal to seal a complete defeat. Overall, Tottenham possessed a clear attacking vision, and their players were highly motivated in executing the manager's intentions flawlessly. On the other hand, Chelsea's tactics and formation were chaotic to the extreme; they were pushed into a highly passive state and failed to register any effective shots on goal.

Alonso stubbornly insists on a so-called 3-4-3 system but fits it with the wrong personnel, and he is incapable of adapting his approach against different opponents. Chelsea's current roster is far better suited for a traditional 4-2-3-1. Conte once won the Premier League title using a similar 3-4-3 formation, but he had Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses at his disposal back then, and the Blues have historically been renowned for their goalscoring defenders and a formidable, elite-level defensive capability in Europe. In contrast, Alonso operates much like Manchester United's Amorim, rigidly clinging to a single formation with a glaring lack of variation, failing to make adjustments based on the actual situation, and making delayed, aimless substitutions. Since the start of the season, the entire team has relied completely on individual talent, with absolutely no tactical identity to speak of across the squad. His success in the Bundesliga only required maintaining stability and overcoming Bayern Munich to secure the title; moreover, the Bundesliga operates in a way where the entire league essentially sustains one team. To provide a shred of suspense, Bayern will occasionally yield the title every few years, which also serves the needs of betting odds. Even Vincent Kompany, who couldn't cut it in the Premier League, could make a name for himself and become an elite manager at Bayern. Alonso's success in the Bundesliga does not prove his ability; rather, his failure at Real Madrid was a true reflection of his incompetence.

Under his stewardship, the attack relies entirely on capitalizing on random, makeshift opportunities rather than any premeditated tactical setups. He appears completely helpless when handling on-pitch emergencies, and his substitutions lack any tactical intent. A great player does not necessarily make a great manager. Without over a decade of grinding in top-tier leagues and proving oneself through exceptional achievements, relying solely on personal fame to lead a team may yield occasional success, but it will ultimately meet an inevitable failure. Mendes' technical flaws were already evident when he came on as a substitute last match—despite his height, he is hesitant to claim aerial balls, likes to rush out recklessly, and pays no attention to his positioning. A goalkeeper who has not been tested in major high-stakes matches can hardly deliver a solid performance. Alonso sidelined Robert Sánchez, yet the newcomer's quality is simply not up to the task. Palmer's red card was understandable; both he and Rogers were playing in highly awkward positions, and their emotional frustration naturally led to red-card offenses.

The midfield players press high up the pitch to create chances and deliver the ball to the frontline for attacks, yet the frontline players press without a proper center-forward in place, leaving the team with no focal point to find in the box after breaking through. Alonso already holds a great hand of cards in the midfield and frontline; the defensive midfield pairing of Jordan Henderson and Caicedo worked surprisingly well, with Caicedo's return noticeably increasing defensive solidity. Unfortunately, the starting goalkeeper and striker were injured again, and Alonso is no tactical mastermind—his limited ability leaves him incapable of adjusting tactics to patch up these fatal flaws. Looking back at the Blues' history, managers who won major titles—including Mourinho, Ancelotti, Conte, and Tuchel—were all world-class elite managers. Chelsea has withered away for years under the chaotic governance of its American owners. Although things are being steered back on track now, historical precedent suggests that bringing back an experienced veteran manager guarantees results. As for those young, overhyped "media-darling" managers, it is best to stop at a shallow taste. Isn't Conte currently unemployed at home? It wouldn't hurt to get in touch with him!