‘I think’: Glenn Hoddle suggests Tuchel needs to actually play £100k-a-week Chelsea player next week vs Real Madrid

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Glenn Hoddle has suggested that Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso should be picked next week for the return leg against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Chelsea lost control of their Champions League quarter-final tie with Madrid by losing 3-1 yesterday in the first leg at Stamford Bridge.

Karim Benzema’s hat-trick puts the La Liga leaders in the ascendancy, so they’ll be expected to finish the job in next Tuesday’s second leg at the Bernabeu.

It’s going to take a much improved performance next week from the Blues in order to progress.

Thomas Tuchel’s side were carved through defensively during the first half with their preferred 3-4-2-1 system. A switch to a back four formation did help, but it’s a long way back now to progress to the semi-finals.

Pundit and ex-Chelsea man Hoddle thinks that Alonso should return to the XI in the return leg against Madrid.

The 31-year-old full-back was an unused substitute last night, with teammate Cesar Azpilicueta occupying the left wing-back role. Incidentally, Frank Lebouef criticised the decision from manager Tuchel to start Azpilicueta on the left of defence.

“I think they’ve got to look at somebody like Alonso on that left-hand side [for the second leg], someone who’s going to get around the outside. They really struggled to get around the outside,” Hoddle told BT Sport 2 (9:48pm, 6 April).

Chilwell absence continues to hurt Chelsea

Yet again, it was a match where Chelsea would’ve loved to have long-term injury absentee Ben Chilwell in their side.

The England international is the club’s outstanding option at left wing-back and would be a nailed-on starter if fit.

Alonso, who earns £100,000-a-week, may have been the more sensible option last night rather than trying to shoehorn Azpilicueta into the side.

However, it can’t be overlooked that Alonso had a poor performance just days earlier in the 4-1 Premier League defeat to Brentford.

Chelsea’s defence has gone from rock solid to calamitous in such a short space of time, something the team need to nip in the bud quickly.

Alonso’s defensive attributes are always suspect, but the XI definitely looked imbalanced without his width and offensive threat.

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