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SportsAston Villa set-piece coach Austin MacPhee joins Chelsea; Bernardo Cueva shifts to technical role
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According to an exclusive report by TA journalist John Townley, Aston Villa's set-piece coach Austin MacPhee has left the club after five years to join Chelsea. MacPhee was highly regarded for his tactical design and training, contributing to Villa scoring 29 goals from set-pieces last season. At Chelsea, he will replace Bernardo Cueva, who transitions to a behind-the-scenes technical and advisory role focusing on set-piece analysis and opponent preparation. Cueva, who joined Chelsea from Brentford in 2024 for £1 million, holds a UEFA Pro License and previously worked in Mexico and Norway. Additionally, Sebastián Parilla, an assistant from Xabi Alonso's staff at Bayer Leverkusen known for improving set-piece statistics, will join Chelsea's coaching team. The moves reflect Chelsea's strategic overhaul under new head coach Xabi Alonso.
Source report
Hupu Football News — July 25
According to an exclusive report by TA journalist John Townley, Aston Villa's set-piece coach Austin MacPhee has left the club and will join Chelsea. He officially bid farewell to Villa's coaching staff and players today.
MacPhee spent five years at Villa, during which his work was highly recognized by the club. His departure is a significant loss for Villa. The club praised his set-piece tactical design and training results, and his coaching ability is well-regarded in the Premier League industry. Now moving to Chelsea, he will bring new tactical elements to the Blues' coaching staff.
Bernardo Cueva to Transition to New Role
According to previous media reports, Bernardo Cueva, who served as Chelsea's dedicated set-piece coach for the past two seasons, will transition to a new role within the club, focusing more on behind-the-scenes technical and advisory functions. The 38-year-old Mexican coach joined Chelsea from Brentford in 2024, with the Blues reportedly paying around £1 million in compensation.
In his new role, Cueva will handle technical work such as set-piece analysis, opponent preparation, and match performance data insights. Since new head coach Xabi Alonso began preseason training on July 9, Cueva, who was previously often seen on the training ground, has not appeared there. Chelsea emphasized that this adjustment should not be seen as a demotion, and Cueva will continue to play a crucial core role in the club's football operations system.
Alonso's Coaching Staff Taking Shape
Chelsea has not yet officially announced Alonso's full coaching staff list, but it is reported that one of his assistants, Sebastián Parilla, will join the coaching team. Parilla, who worked with Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, is known for improving set-piece attack and defense statistics.
Cueva worked under Maresca, Rossinier, and interim coach McFarland during the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons at Chelsea, often appearing on the bench and frequently communicating with the fourth official beyond set-piece duties. After Anthony Barry left to join Bayern Munich, Chelsea viewed Cueva as the primary candidate to fill that gap.
Cueva also holds a UEFA Pro License issued by the English FA, and his abilities are highly respected. Before joining Brentford in 2020 and helping the team gain promotion to the Premier League, he worked in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico, and also served in the Norwegian men's national team.
Source: X International Football News
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Aston Villa Set-Piece Coach Austin MacPhee Joins Chelsea; Bernardo Cueva Shifts to Technical Role