Marcos Alonso has revealed that the lack of first-team involvement that came his way prior to Thomas Tuchel taking the Chelsea job frustrated him as a player.
When Frank Lampard was in charge of the Stamford Bridge giants, Alonso had fallen down the pecking order with the then Chelsea boss making his marquee defensive signing last summer in the form of Ben Chilwell who came in from Leicester City in a big-money move.
Alonso was rarely handed a starting role on the Chelsea teamsheet as Chilwell occupied the first-choice berth in the four-man backline drafted by Lampard whose side languished way out of the top-six which led to him getting the sack in January.
Tuchel came in and Chelsea were quick to witness a major turnaround in results with the newly appointed gaffer leading his players to a majestic unbeaten run across his first 14 games in charge of the west Londoners and the German coach had one of his first-team regulars in the previously marginalised figure of Marcos Alonso.
The Spain international was awarded significantly more game time now with Tuchel making the decisions and the full-back has admitted that he is happy over how things have turned out in the recent past.
“This season I didn’t play as much as I wanted,” the defender said to Chelsea TV.
“But when Thomas came, I had my chances and played some good games.
“I was happy to be back helping the team on the pitch.
“The hardest part is to be training every day, doing good in training, keeping fit, and seeing you don’t get a lot of minutes. It’s tough.
“But [I’m] happy things change after a while, and that’s what keeps [me going] during the tough times.”
