Chelsea man Lampard ostracized saw Barcelona transfer collapse on deadline day

Marcos Alonso TEAMtalk

Marcos Alonso could have left Stamford Bridge late on transfer deadline day, before Barcelona reportedly pulled the plug.

Todofichajes reported that Barcelona were keen on a deal for Alonso in January.

It transpires that Barca were lining up Alonso as cover in case Junior Firpo completed a move away from the club on deadline day.

AC Milan were in the running for Firpo and Mundo Deportivo via Sport Witness report that Barcelona had one eye on Alonso to replace him.

However, Firpo stayed and so Barcelona ended their interest.

Whether or not the Catalan giants would have been able to get their hands on Alonso is in doubt though.

The Blues decided before deadline day that they didn’t want to let the defender go, according to the Daily Star.

And that does make sense after Thomas Tuchel gave him his fourth start of the season against Burnley on Sunday. The 30-year-old had found himself out in the cold under Frank Lampard.

Ben Chilwell was always Lampard’s go to left-back, but Tuchel swapped Alonso for Chilwell against Burnley to negate their threat from set-pieces.

Alonso told the club’s website: “I have more freedom to attack because we are better covered for defending but it’s not about the system.

“When we play more organised, all together, knowing what to do and where to be on the pitch then this team has great potential to achieve big things.

“We have a long way until the end of the season to show that and prove we deserve a better position in the table than where we are now but we have to fight for it.

“A lot of things have been said out there but I like to work, be quiet and talk on the pitch so that was for the fans. It’s good to get the reward and hopefully there will be more to come.”

 

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Alonso marked his first full 90 minutes since September with a goal against Burnley, firing into the top corner from close range after a slick Chelsea move.


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The defender, who is under contract until 2023, had not even been making the squad under Lampard after being hooked at half-time against West Brom.

Alonso hauled off at half-time

In September Chelsea were 3-0 down at The Hawthorns at the interval and Alonso was replaced by Lampard. Reports then claim Alonso had a shower and left for the team bus, rather than joining his fellow substitutes on the bench for the second-half.

That is said to have infuriated Lampard with a source telling The Atheltic: “The players were saying they have never seen the manager like this.

“It kicked off after the game and he was going mad at Alonso. Some were talking about how they’d be surprised if he plays for Chelsea ever again.”

Tuchel though immediately recalled him to the bench against Wolves after only taking charge the previous day and started him against the Clarets.

The Star claim Tuchel is keen on keeping the Spaniard around and Alonso looks set to get more game time under the German coach.

READ MORE: Christian Pulisic reveals Tuchel plans to change his role for Chelsea