It was never my intention to leave – Marcos Alonso out to repay Chelsea ‘trust’

Marcos Alonso has branded Chelsea “the most important club of my career” and insisted he never considered leaving Stamford Bridge even when frozen out under Frank Lampard.

Alonso’s resurgence under current boss Thomas Tuchel has been strong enough for the 31-year-old to admit he could see himself staying at Chelsea beyond his current contract that expires in summer 2023.

The Real Madrid youth star has now set the record straight on the bust-up with Lampard that threatened his Chelsea career, speaking for the first time about the Blues’ 3-3 draw at West Brom in September 2020.

The Spain wing-back has rejected suggestions he stormed out of The Hawthorns to watch the second half of that Premier League clash on the Blues’ team bus.

Alonso had been replaced at half-time with Chelsea trailing 3-0 but has now explained he was moved on from his vantage point inside the ground by stadium staff.

The resulting mix-up infuriated Lampard, who refused to explain the situation publicly but did sideline Alonso, who did not play again for the Blues for four months.

Now, though, Alonso finds himself a central character in Saturday’s Club World Cup final against Palmeiras.

While all focus hones in on the battle at Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Alonso took the time to deliver his version of those West Brom events.

“I watched the game upstairs and with five minutes to go they (West Brom security) told me I cannot be there, so I went downstairs to the changing room,” said Alonso.

“Then when the referee blew the whistle I went to the coach before the team got back.

“It was not with any bad intention that I wanted to leave but I’d had a shower at half-time already.

“I was not happy, of course, with how the game went and everything,