August 11th, 2026: Chelsea's previous head coach Fires Indirect Shot At Chelsea After Champions League Defeat To PSG
October 14th, 2026: Man City who are being coached by Chelsea's previous head coach lost 2-4 to PSG
#CFC | #Chelsea
One of Alonso's biggest changes against Bournemouth came OOP.
Previously, Chelsea mostly defended in a 5-2-3 mid-block, leaving the two midfielders with huge spaces to cover as Palmer, Joao Pedro and Rogers stayed higher up the pitch.
There was a clear benefit: after regaining possession, Chelsea had three dangerous players centrally and closer to goal. But I think the defensive disadvantages outweighed the attacking benefits.
Against Bournemouth, Chelsea instead defended in a 4-4-2 mid-block, with clear triggers to switch to man-oriented pressing.
Neto no longer dropped into the back line as the fifth defender, while Rogers moved into the left midfield position out of possession.
Chelsea created fewer chances, but they also gave Bournemouth far fewer opportunities. The opposition struggled to disrupt their defensive structure, and Chelsea were able to control the game much better without the ball.
But it wasn't just about the formation change. The entire OOP approach looked much more coordinated than in previous matches.