Chelsea is set to appoint Bernardo Cueva, a 36-year-old Mexican, as their new set-piece coach.
In a significant move for the Premier League club, Chelsea has decided to bring in Bernardo Cueva from Brentford to lead their set-piece department. Cueva, who has been with Brentford since September 2020 as a tactical statistician and played a key role in the team’s promotion to the Premier League in May 2021, is now poised to take on a more hands-on coaching role at Stamford Bridge.
The departure of Anthony Barry to Bayern Munich last summer left Chelsea without a designated set-piece coach, making Cueva’s appointment all the more crucial for the Blues. Set-pieces have become increasingly important in modern football, with teams looking to gain an edge through specialized coaching in this area. Chelsea’s directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley have spearheaded the effort to bolster their coaching staff by bringing in Cueva, recognizing the significance of having dedicated specialists for set-pieces.
Cueva’s track record at Brentford speaks for itself, with the team scoring 16 goals from set-pieces last season under his guidance. This effectiveness in utilizing set-pieces as a strategic weapon on the field likely played a major role in Chelsea’s decision to hire him. The importance of set-piece coaches has been highlighted by other top clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City who have reaped rewards from such specialized coaching.
Overall, Bernardo Cueva’s appointment as Chelsea’s new set-piece coach represents a strategic move by the club to enhance their tactical capabilities and maximize scoring opportunities from dead-ball situations.
