Thomas Tuchel has highlighted Marcos Alonso's mental strength and self-confidence as the reasons why the Spaniard made an immediate impact on his return to the Chelsea side.
The 30-year-old had been frozen out under Frank Lampard after a disastrous showing against West Bromwich Albion in September. Alonso was culpable for two goals that day but it was his decision to head to the team bus after being substituted that drew the wrath of the former Blues head coach.
Alonso didn't make another appearance under Lampard after that match at the Hawthorns. He wasn't even included in another Premier League match-day squad.
It's why a January departure was anticipated for the Spain international. There were reports of interest from clubs in Italy while Atletico Madrid and Barcelona had also been mooted as potential suitors.
However, Lampard's departure and Tuchel's appointment was a lifeline for Alonso at Stamford Bridge. The German coach's decision to set up his side with wing-backs only strengthened the case for him to return to the side.
Alonso was an unused substitute for Tuchel's first game in charge, a 0-0 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers, but he was back in the starting XI against Burnley on Sunday.
Not only did Alonso help the Blues keep a clean sheet on his return, he netted a superb volley to help Chelsea record a 2-0 victory over the Clarets.
Alonso is now very much in contention to start against Tottenham this evening, something aided by the fact he's scored three goals and claimed an assist in eight Premier League matches against Chelsea's London rivals.
And ahead of the trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tuchel explained why Alonso was immediately brought back into the fold.
"It was very important he could step up like this," the Chelsea head coach said. "I had the feeling he could, but there would have been no blame if he couldn’t because he hadn't played for a long time.
"I had the feeling that he is still mentally strong, the position suits him very well, and that he is experienced enough to do this. And at the same time, he is self-confident enough to have a performance like this. So that's why we put him [in the team against Burnley].
"He’s a bit more used to the position than Ben Chilwell, whom I like a lot and is a great, great player – I’m very lucky to have Chilly. But like I said [at the weekend], it was about the size of Marcos, his ability to help us on defensive set pieces and corners, and with his goal threat.
"I saw many, many games of him in this position with Antonio Conte and it is now very important that he keeps on going because he gives a different profile to this position. Every coach wishes for players with different profiles in many positions because we can then choose from game to game.
"It gives us a big scale of decisions. Now Marcos has to work hard and to push forward to stay in the squad. And Chilly, at the same time, is pushing to come into the squad. That’s the best situation we can have.
