Chelsea manager, Xabi Alonso, has expressed his wish for improved possession control following their pre-season friendly loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
Richarlison helped the Lilywhites to a 2-1 victory at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday, scoring with the final kick of the match.
Sandro Tonali opened the scoring after a spirited first fifteen minutes, finding the net with a deflected shot from just outside the penalty area, beating Teddy Sharman-Lowe.
Estevao Willian equalised shortly thereafter, darting past Andy Robertson at the back post to connect with a beautifully weighted cross from Jamie Gittens.
Just a few minutes into the second half, Kevin Danso, who had come on for Jan Paul van Hecke at half-time, was dismissed for a foul on Joao Pedro. Tottenham found themselves under pressure, with Chelsea dominating possession and pushing forward.
However, the Lilywhites were fortunate as Antonin Kinsky made several crucial saves to keep Roberto De Zerbi’s team in contention. For the rest of the match, Spurs were mostly restricted to counter attacks.
The Blues were unable to take advantage of their numerical superiority, and in the dying moments of the match, Richarlison scored for Tottenham from close range. The Lilywhites’ striker capitalised on a loose ball in the box after Jamie Donley struck the post with a long-range shot.
In a post-match interview, Alonso shared his thoughts on the not-so-friendly friendly. The Chelsea manager remarked, “It was an intense, competitive match, without a doubt. We aimed to win, and none of us enjoyed the loss, but it is a preparation game, it is pre-season, and we have missed several opportunities.
The first half was highly competitive and evenly matched, while the second half saw us playing with 10 men, and we came close to scoring a goal. Overall, it was a positive pre-season match, with a fantastic crowd and a vibrant atmosphere, although we unfortunately conceded a late goal that resulted in our loss.”
Regarding any aspects of his team’s performance that he found unsatisfactory, Alonso remarked, “Certainly, in any match, one believes there is room for improvement; this is part of the learning process, identifying areas where we can enhance our performance and recognising what we executed well.
“At this stage, it is typical for us to experience these fluctuations, but the outcome is not the primary concern; rather, it is the quality of our performance. The plan was to provide 75 minutes of play for many players, and we adhered to that plan.”
During a specific phase of the match, Chelsea faced difficulties in maintaining possession, and Alonso appeared quite animated on the sidelines. The Blues manager commented, “There were various moments throughout the game.
“I mentioned that the first half was quite close, with instances where we could have retained possession more effectively. Particularly in the final 10 minutes of the first half, we struggled to keep the ball, yet we did not concede any goals. This is part of the game; control is not always guaranteed, and it was crucial to maintain our structure and strategy during those times.
“In the second half, the situation changed dramatically with 10 men, and we came very close to scoring. However, while winning is desirable, it is not the most critical aspect at this moment. We will feel more frustration over lost points in the future, but not at this stage.”