Chelsea are having a mixed bag of a season under Mauricio Pochettino as they remain in 11th place in the Premier League table but are still in the running for the FA Cup title. Amid this, the club’s hierarchy has agreed to bring in a specialized coach in Bernardo Cueva to help strengthen one aspect of their game.
Chelsea Agree Deal With Set-Piece Coach Bernardo Cueva
🚨 Chelsea reach agreement with Brentford to appoint Bernardo Cueva as set-piece coach. 36yo continues at #BrentfordFC until summer before moving in coup for #CFC. Regarded as top operator + will lead department (further additions to follow) @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/pdzWiGNArf
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) March 13, 2024
How Much Will Chelsea Pay For Cueva Appointment?
The Athletic’s David Ornstein has reported that the London heavyweights have struck an agreement with Brentford to sign their set-piece coach at the end of the 2023/24 season. The 36-year-old is being brought on board to build a new set-piece department at the club.
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Chelsea have not had a set-piece coach since their former man Anthony Barry left for Bayern Munich last year and this is reportedly seen as a major coup for the club. The Evening Standard’s Nizaar Kinsella claims that Brentford are expected to receive a fee of around £750,000 to £1 million for letting their coach leave for the Blues.
Ornstein further adds that Pochettino had been consulted about this and supports the idea of a new set-piece department being created that can help the club be more prolific from such scenarios going forward. Cueva will be able to start his work in the summer once the season, with Brentford currently tangled in a relegation battle in the Premier League.
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What Can Cueva Bring To Chelsea?
Cueva has been regarded as the main reason behind Brentford’s set-piece prowess and ability to score so many goals from dead-ball situations. Last season, 16 of their 58 goals in the Premier League came from set-pieces (around 27.5%) and they have scored seven goals from similar situations this time around so far.
The Mexican, who joined the Bees from Chivas in 2020, also played a role in helping them get promoted to the Premier League in 2021.
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The 36-year-old has an admirable talent in ensuring that his side uses unique set-piece tactics to fool the opposition teams and defenders against corners as well as free-kicks better. He could help Chelsea score more goals from set-piece scenarios and improve their overall work in the deadball situations once he is able to join the club after this season is over.
