Chelsea agree deal with Brentford to make Bernardo Cueva their set-piece coach next season, despite Mauricio Pochettino dismissing the idea of a specialist

Chelsea have reportedly agreed a deal with Brentford to make Bernardo Cueva their set-piece coach from next season.

According to The Athletic, the 36-year-old will continue working for the Bees until the end of the current campaign before making the switch across west London.

Mail Sport reported earlier this month the Blues were looking to recruit a specialist set-piece coach to replace Anthony Barry, who left the role in April to join former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich.

Cueva joined Brentford from Mexican side Chivas in September 2020 after being recruited by the club’s director of football Phil Giles and technical director Lee Dykes.

He began working as tactical statistician and has played a crucial role in Brentford’s progress from the Championship to established Premier League side.

During his time at the club, the Bees have become renowned for their set-piece prowess.

Last season, 16 of Brentford’s 58 goals in the Premier League game from a set piece –  the second-best figure in the league after Liverpool’s tally of 17 – with half of them coming from corners – a number bettered only by six teams.

Conversely, Chelsea’s attacking set-pieces in particular have been underwhelming this season, with only relegated threatened Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Sheffield United having scored fewer than their six goals in the Premier League.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have not scored a single goal from an indirect free-kick and their tally of five goals from corners is eight fewer than that of Arsenal, whose free-kick coach Nicolas Jover has been widely credited with honing the routines that have contributed over 30 per cent of their goals this season.

Mauricio Pochettino last month appeared to question the value of specialist coaches 

Following Barry’s departure last year, Chelsea were one of just a handful of Premier League clubs without a specialist set-piece coach.

But Pochettino appeared to question the value of specialist coaches in a press conference last month.

‘We have specialists,’ he said. ‘We are a coaching staff in charge of everything.’