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Chelsea to hire Brentford’s Bernardo Cueva as set-piece coach
Chelsea Football Club has finalized an agreement with Brentford to bring in Bernardo Cueva as their new set-piece coach, effective at the end of the current season.
Bernardo Cueva, a 36-year-old Mexican, initially joined Brentford from Chivas in September 2020, serving as a tactical statistician. His contributions have been instrumental in Brentford’s journey, notably their promotion to the Premier League in May 2021 and their reputation for set-piece proficiency.
Identified as the top candidate to fill the vacancy left by Anthony Barry’s departure for Bayern Munich last April, Cueva’s recruitment is seen as a significant coup for Chelsea. He will continue his duties at Brentford until the summer before transitioning to his new role at Chelsea.
In his new position, Cueva will lead a department that is expected to see further enhancements as Chelsea’s sporting directors, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, continue to refine the club’s setup. The decision has received support from head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who was consulted on the matter.
Cueva’s recruitment follows a pattern of top-flight rivals poaching backroom staff from Brentford. Nicolas Jover, Andreas Georgson, Jack Wilson, and Gianni Vio are among the individuals who have made similar moves to other Premier League clubs after stints at Brentford.
Chelsea’s acquisition of Bernardo Cueva underscores their commitment to strengthening their coaching staff and optimizing their set-piece strategies as they strive for success in domestic and European competitions.