Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has insisted that winning matches and creating goalscoring opportunities matter more than dominating possession, while admitting that his team still has room for improvement on the ball.
The Blues manager acknowledged that Chelsea were not at their best in possession but argued that controlling the ball should not be the sole measure of a team's performance.
Alonso believes his side must focus on creating clear chances, threatening the opposition goal and doing enough to secure victories, regardless of how much possession they enjoy during a match.
The Spaniard explained that a team can have 60 per cent, 40 per cent or even 30 per cent of the ball and still achieve its objective if it creates opportunities and takes them.
However, he made it clear that Chelsea can improve their performance when in possession, stressing that his ultimate priority is to win games.
For Alonso, possession statistics are less important than the ability to turn attacking opportunities into goals and positive results. His comments underline the importance of efficiency and effectiveness as Chelsea continue to develop under his leadership.