Even after spending more than $1.26 billion on signings since American investor Todd Boehly succeeded Roman Abramovich, Chelsea continue to throw money at their problems.
The Blues have struck an agreement to hire Mexican set piece coach Bernardo Cueva, who is currently at Brentford, for a reported $1.1million fee.
The 37-year-old is finally set to join Mauricio Pochettino‘s backroom team to revamp their set pieces after the two west London clubs agreed on the compensation package.
In a statement released on Saturday, Brentford announced Cueva‘s departure and thanked the Mexican for his services over the last few years at the Community Stadium.
“Bernardo has done a fantastic job for us over the last four seasons,” Phil Giles, Brentford‘s director of football, said. “He leaves with the blessing and best wishes of everyone at Brentford.”
Cueva has played a key role in Brentford‘s recent successes in the Premier League after surviving in the top flight for three consecutive seasons.
Of the 160 goals they have scored since gaining promotion, 41 of them have come from set pieces. In other words, more than 25 per cent of the Bees’ goals have come from rehearsed moves on the training ground which were meticulously designed by him.
A new beginning for Cueva
After spells with Mexican side Chivas, the Norway national team and Brentford, Cueva will head to Stamford Bridge to help design set-pieces for a Chelsea side who have struggled in this department.
Despite boasting towering defenders such as Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill, they have conceded a large number of goals from set-piece situations, including in the 1-0 Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool.
Between the three defenders this season, they have scored six of Chelsea‘s 12 goals from set-pieces. But with an expert like Cueva on the books, the Blues will be looking to get closer to the 20 goals scored by Arsenal, who have improved with their own specialist, Nicolas Jover.