Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso has given his opinion on why England fall short at major tournaments, claiming that training in Italy is like 'doing a masters at uni', while in England it simply isn't.
The 25-year-old, who completed a £23m switch to Chelsea from Fiorentina this summer, has slotted into Antonio Conte's side well this season, playing three times in the Premier League against Arsenal, Hull and Leicester, with Chelsea earning clean sheets in two of those games.
But he feels that although the pace of the Premier League is quick, the training for defenders is much more intense in Italy.
"Italy is a very competitive league, where most of the teams wait for you," Alonso told Chelsea's match day programme, as quoted byGoal.
Marcos Alonso on Serie A: "It's like after university when you go to do a master's. Italy is like that for defenders." pic.twitter.com/ppaYcoNA3d
"It's like after uni when you go to do a master's. Italy is like that for defenders.
"Defend, get into position and they are perfect tactically. They also work a lot on the physical aspect, so I think it's great for defenders to play in Italy.
"I have learned a little bit in every country, which is an advantage because you become a more complete player."
Conte praises Moses's defensive & attacking work as a wing-back. He says it compares with Marcos Alonso, who has more experience there. #CFC
Alonso is expected to start for the Blues again this weekend as they face off against their old manager Jose Mourinho, who saw his Man Utd side hold Liverpool to a 0-0 drew at Anfield on Monday.
Conte has deployed an interesting 3-5-2 formation in recent weeks, and Alonso is happy with his new role as a wing-back.
It was a great two years in Italy, I played a lot of games and gained experience in a different league. So you pick up new stuff, new ways of doing things, on and off the pitch, and I think that has made me a better player, and also more mature mentally,� he added.
"I had to get used to that when I went there [playing at wing-back], but over the last couple of years that's been the system that I have been playing. Most of the time I was a left wing-back in the line of the five, but I also sometimes played as a left centre-back.
"Wherever the team needs me to help I will try to do my best, and it's good to be able to play in more than one position."
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