Martin Keown has questioned Xabi Alonso's surprising tactical decisions following Chelsea's disappointing 2-0 home defeat against Tottenham. The former Arsenal defender could not understand why the manager opted for a false nine setup rather than deploying an experienced striker from the bench.
Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has thrown his full support behind Mike Penders, confirming the young goalkeeper will retain his place for the upcoming Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool. The decision comes despite a difficult afternoon for the Belgian in the London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi was full of praise for his squad’s psychological shift following a dominant display in west London. The Italian tactician highlighted the performance of Mateus Fernandes, who remained composed throughout a high-tension London derby that saw tempers boil over in the second half.
Gary Neville tore into Chelsea’s discipline during their 2-0 defeat to Tottenham, insisting Morgan Rogers deserved a red card for a late challenge and that Cole Palmer could have been sent off earlier. The former Manchester United defender also urged Xabi Alonso to take action as a 14-man brawl and a red card overshadowed a miserable evening at Stamford Bridge.