Marcos Alonso says Maurizio Sarri never playing professionally one reason for his struggles at Chelsea this season

Marcos Alonso says Maurizio Sarri never playing professionally one reason for his struggles at Chelsea this season
Marcos Alonso believes Maurizio Sarri ‘is still learning’ as a manager and reckons the fact he never played football at high level makes his job tougher.The Blues left-back was excellent for two seasons under Antonio Conte, winning the Premier League and FA Cup, playing as part of a five-man defence, but has struggled to adapt to Sarri’s switch to a back four, losing his place to Brazilian Emerson.getty2

Alonso has admitted he has had a difficult campaign

Alonso, 28, began the campaign well, including scoring the winner against Arsenal, but his form dramatically tailed off soon after and he was substituted or left out of numerous squads, including the Carabao Cup final.He has since forced his way back into the starting XI, as Chelsea prepare to take on Arsenal in the Europa League final in Baku on Wednesday.Alonso said: Its never easy to come to a new country and new league, new football, new culture. The gaffer is still learning.He was not a football player either, so he is learning a lot this year. Taking orders from someone like that can be different, but at the end of the day we have to be professional and take on whatever he asks us for. He is different.There have been numerous reports claiming Sarri will leave the west London club this summer,with Blues legend Frank Lampard replacing him in the hotseat.Sarri, who has never won a major honour as a manager and began his career as a banker, has come in for heavy criticism this season with fans unhappy at his style of play, while a spectacular downturn in results saw them fall off the title pace, eventually finishing third.I started the season very, and the team also started very well,” Alonso added.getty2

Alonso’s form dipped during the season

Then the manager asked me for something different. I tried to do what he was asking me to do and when the team started winning games again I had a small injury in my back.I had to stop for a couple of games but after that I was back playing good and getting back in the team when they needed me. Now there is a big opportunity to end the season well and go on holiday.Its not easy of course to adapt. We are eleven players, all have to try to go in the same direction. Managers are different, they have different aspects of tactics. He wanted to change the team not just me. He wanted to change the way we start playing.talkSPORT will bring you live commentary of the Europa League final between Chelsea and Arsenal on Wednesday night

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Chelsea are among a number of Premier League clubs looking at Croatian midfielder Josip Vukovic as they plan their possible summer business. The Blues have been hit with a transfer embargo lasting two windows but should be able to make moves in the summer if they appeal the punishment from FIFA.
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Leicester have announced that winger Marc Albrighton has signed a new four-year contract. The 26-year-old was a key performer in the Foxes' title win last season and he has followed a number of
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Newcastle United chiefs eager to learn Rafa Benitez's final decision on contract extension. The Magpies held talks with Benitez last month but after talk of a lack of improved terms they are
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