Sometimes the routine home wins can be the hardest to get over the line.

A goal early in the second half for Chelsea eased what could have been a frustrating finale, but no one could argue that the Blues deserved their victory: they dominated in every conceivable way. They bossed possession, they had 15 corners to Swansea’s one, and they won on the shot count 21-2 - it was utter domination.

But if they were impressive stats, there were some Chelsea players who stood out. One is Marcos Alonso.

It wasn’t a game where you’d expect a wing-back to have to make too much of a defensive contribution, and Alonso’s two interceptions was the height of the mark he made in that role. But it was his involvement in the game at the other end which stood out.

Alonso’s 97 touches saw him heavily involved in the game on the left wing, whilst his five shots - more than any other player on the pitch except striker Alvaro Morata - showed how useful he was to his side going forward.

But perhaps the most interesting of Alonso’s stats showed an insight into Chelsea’s style of play this season. His four aerial duel victories showed his worth in the air, but when you contrast that with the fact that he made no crosses throughout the entire game, Antonio Conte’s gameplan starts to emerge.

Indeed, it looks strange: despite having one of the most impressive aerial threats in the Premier League this season, Morata isn’t being peppered with crosses from a pair of marauding wing-backs. Instead, Alonso’s power in the air seems to be used to bring the likes of Willian and Pedro - and Eden Hazard in other matches - into the game, as they buzz around the half-spaces in behind the striker.

Last season, Alonso was perhaps Conte’s secret weapon. He allowed Chelsea to play with a back three formation, and provided the width which allowed his wingers to become inside forwards. This season, perhaps it’s his height the Italian coach is looking to exploit as he tries to find yet another tactical flourish to surprise his opponents.

https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/chelsea-quotes.mp4