3 heavily criticised players Chelsea should hold on to next season 

#2 Marcos Alonso

Marcos Alonso

No Chelsea player has been maligned as heavily as Marcos Alonso in recent years. The Spanish full-back has been constantly criticized by the Blues faithful over his shortcomings in certain departments. Some fans, meanwhile, have even demanded that he be sold to another team.

Alonso joined the London side from Fiorentina in the final hours of the summer transfer window of 2016. The 'panic deal' was completed to appease the then head coach Antonio Conte, who wanted to bring in a wing-back to play his preferred formation. The Spaniard had to wait a while before nailing down his position in the first-team. Once he did, however, he managed to retain it for the rest of the season, helping Chelsea win the Premier League.

While Alonso proved to be a valuable asset for the Blues in his first season at the club, contributing at both ends of the pitch, fans soon started seeing his shortcomings. His positioning high up the pitch to help out in attack usually left spaces in behind for attackers to exploit, while his speed was also seen as a negative. A shift to a back-four under Maurizio Sarri in 2018 saw the Spaniard continue his decline, which eventually resulted in Emerson taking his place.

Despite earning his fair share of criticism, Alonso has proven to be Chelsea's unlikely talisman on several occasions. His powerful left foot has often been the Blues' most potent weapon, whether it is via crosses, shots, or set pieces. Should Frank Lampard decide to keep him, he could prove to be a valuable asset, especially against the sides which sit deep while allowing the opposition to have time on the ball.