Xabi Alonso knows what Chelsea need to do to return to winning ways when they face Juventus in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
Xabi Alonso has outlined his desire for greater control of possession following Chelsea's pre-season friendly defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Richarlison fired the Lilywhites to a 2-1 victory at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday, scoring with the last kick of the game.
Sandro Tonali broke the deadlock after a feisty opening quarter of an hour, beating Teddy Sharman-Lowe with a deflected strike from just outside the box. Estevao Willian levelled proceedings a few moments later, whizzing past Andy Robertson at the back post to latch onto a delightfully weighted cross from Jamie Gittens.
Then, just a few minutes into the second half, Kevin Danso, who had just replaced Jan Paul van Hecke at the break, was sent off for a foul on Joao Pedro. Tottenham had their backs against the wall, with Chelsea on the front foot and enjoying the lion's share of possession.
But, fortunately for the Lilywhites, Antonin Kinsky made several good saves to keep Roberto De Zerbi's side in the tie. Spurs were largely limited to counterattacks for the remainder of the game.
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The Blues failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage and, in what was the last play of the match, Richarlison fired Tottenham ahead from close range. The Lilywhites striker pounced on a loose ball inside the box after Jamie Donley hit the post with a long-range effort.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Alonso reflected on the not-so-friendly friendly. The Chelsea manager said: "It was an intense, competitive game, for sure. The result, we wanted to win, for sure, to lose, none of us liked it, but it's a preparation game, it's pre-season, we have missed a few chances.
"The first half was really competitive, really even, and the second half with 10 men, we have been close to score that goal. It's been a good pre-season game, great crowd, great atmosphere, and luckily we conceded that late goal to lose."
On whether there were aspects on his side's performance that he didn't like, Alonso said: "Of course, in any game, you think that you can do better; that's part of the process, to learn from things that we can do better, things that we have done well.
"In the stage that we are now, it's normal that we are going through these momentums, but the result is not the most important; it's more the performance, it's 75 minutes for many players, so it was the plan, and we respected it."
During a particular spell in the game, Chelsea struggled to retain possession, and Alonso looked rather animated on the sidelines. The Blues manager said: "Well, there were moments for everything.
"I've said that the first half was really tight, with some moments that we could have kept the ball a little bit more, so especially in those last 10 minutes of the first half, we were not able to hold the ball that much, but we were not conceding, so this is the game, you don't always have the control, and not to lose your shape, not to lose your plan in those moments, it was important.
"And after the second half, the context has changed completely, with 10 men, we have been really close to scoring, but again, you want to win, but this is not important. It will come when we will be a little bit more frustrated for losing points. Not yet."
Sharman-Lowe has now started each of Chelsea's pre-season friendlies in Australia. When asked to provide an update on the Blues' situation between the sticks, Alonso said: "Mike [Penders] is joining us in Hong Kong, and Robert [Sanchez] has a minor [injury].
"Not a big thing, but not for today, and we'll have to wait until, let's see, for the next week. We need to go assessing almost day by day, but there was no point of taking risks today."
Alonso will hope Chelsea can return to winning ways when they face Juventus in Hong Kong on Wednesday.