Hudson says Chelsea ‘must’ consider playing 30-year-old and £45m man together for once

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Alan Hudson suggested to Caught Offside that Chelsea should deploy Ben Chilwell and Marcos Alonso as a pair on the left flank.

The former Blue proposed that Thomas Tuchel could play them together instead of forcing them to wrestle for the same position.

‘Both are good in possession and Chilwell has shown he has an eye for goal, something positive,” Hudson admitted.

“We have seen Alonso go missing when the other team attack, left up field – that was why he and Frank fell out.

“As an out and out defensive left-back it’s Chilwell, but the problem here is apart from appearance they’re very similar, maybe too similar, that is why you can use them to your advantage.

“If they both play Alonso must be looked at as a deep lying left winger and Chilwell controlling him once losing possession.”

Chelsea’s left-footed defenders have been vying for the same spot in Tuchel’s system, which demands the use of wing-backs.

Alonso is the more natural fit of the two in this formation. The 30-year-old played there extremely efficiently for Antonio Conte and looked at home during his three matches under Tuchel.

He started and finished the wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley, scoring against the latter. Alonso also replaced Chilwell after an hour at Sheffield United.

This is the second time that Chelsea’s £45m (BBC Sport) signing had been brought off around the 60-minute mark by the new manager.

Tuchel removed Chilwell against Wolverhampton Wanderers and was not used again until the recent midweek victory.

There is nothing to say that the German coach won’t deploy the duo simultaneously.

Cesar Azpilicueta’s inclusion as part of the three-man defence has now been accompanied by Reece James’ reintroduction at right-wing back.

You could argue they were both in direct competition for the right-back whilst Frank Lampard was in charge, yet Tuchel has been able to occupy both their needs.

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This would certainly be a wacky tactical tweak and almost something out of the Jose Mourinho handbook

I just feel Chelsea have too much attacking talent for them to settle on two left-backs as their primary source down that side of the pitch.