Marcos Alonso has aimed a fresh dig at Frank Lampard by claiming Chelsea ‘took a leap tactically’ when Thomas Tuchel replaced him as head coach.
Lampard was sacked by the Blues in January of last year after just 18 months in the hot-seat, paying the price for a dismal run of five defeats in eight Premier League matches.
His dismissal was certainly a controversial one, with both supporters and neutrals critical of a sacking many considered premature, but Tuchel’s subsequent arrival eventually turned out to be a masterstroke.
The German replaced Lampard and resurrected Chelsea’s season emphatically, guiding them to a place in the top four and winning the Champions League.
Alonso was one of the main beneficiaries of Tuchel’s appointment, becoming an important member of the side again having previously lost his place under Lampard.
And the Spanish defender has detailed how Tuchel picked up the pieces and guided them to European glory, saying in an interview with Spanish outlet AS: ‘We were a very balanced team. In these close qualifiers, the little details make the difference.
‘We were a team in every way. We defended very well, we were an uncomfortable team to play with, we defended all eleven and the small details made the difference.
‘At this point in the Champions League everything is very even and it depends on very small details.’
Alonso had been ostracised by Lampard in the first half of that season after falling out with the legendary ex-Chelsea midfielder during an early 3-3 draw away at West Brom.
Reports suggested Lampard was furious with the left-back for storming out of the Hawthorns after being hooked off at half-time, which resulted in his demotion, but Alonso said earlier this year: ‘I was not happy, of course, with how the game went and everything, but it was not any intention to do that (storm out).
‘I spoke to my team-mates straight afterwards, if someone felt offended or something. But everyone was okay.
‘The manager didn’t take it well but I explained everything that happened. He thought I left before the end of the game but I told him no.’
And 14 months on from Lampard’s departure, Alonso has taken a subtle swipe at his former boss.
Speaking about Tuchel, Alonso said: ‘Since he arrived, the team took a leap tactically and when it came to defending. We are very happy with it.’
Chelsea will continue the defence of their Champions League crown when they take on Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the competition next month.
Tuchel’s side got the better of Real in last season’s semi-final, and Alonso insists they will ‘give everything’ to do so again.
‘We already showed last year what we are capable of,’ he said. ‘It’s a different year, another moment, but we’re facing two great teams and we’ll try to give everything to reach the semi-finals.
‘I think there are no favourites. At this point, any team is complicated and it will be a beautiful and difficult tie for sure.’