Brentford 3-0 Chelsea: Defensive points for Xabi Alonso laid naked after chastening west London derby defeat | Soccer Information

“You should really feel it. We’re not feeling it,” mentioned Xabi Alonso after Chelsea’s 3-0 loss at Brentford. But Chelsea are caught in a well-known feeling.

One other defeat, their eleventh of the calendar yr – greater than that they had in 2025, with three months of this yr to go. No less than two targets conceded for the fifth straight Premier League recreation underneath Alonso. Extra set-piece woe.

“We dropped our consistency, our aggressive mentality wanted within the second half,” mentioned Alonso. That can concern Chelsea followers probably the most. It was method too simple for Brentford to take over that second half.

And there is one other persevering with development: Chelsea being outbattled in a match. Keep in mind, they have been outrun within the overwhelming majority of their Premier League matches final season.

The very first thing you concentrate on whenever you come up in opposition to Brentford is ready items. Lengthy throws, good corners – the lot. And identical to in opposition to Hull of their earlier recreation, Chelsea misplaced management of the match by conceding as soon as once more from a set-piece.

This was the fourth aim they’ve conceded from a set-piece in 5 Premier League video games – taking their general tally because the begin of final season to 23, the joint-worst out of any Premier League facet.

As soon as once more, the ball was put proper on high of Emiliano Martinez in the direction of the again put up and neither the goalkeeper nor the outfield gamers have been in a position to react. And the worst a part of it for Chelsea? Brentford noticed it coming a mile off.

“We did goal [the back post] at half-time,” mentioned Vitaly Janelt to Sky Sports activities. “There was a giant hole on the far put up. We focused that and I believe it was our first nook of the second half.”

And Chelsea are affected by all these set-piece woes regardless of now having one of the best dead-ball coach within the league in Austin MacPhee. Bernardo Cueva, who was their set-piece coach earlier than MacPhee and now has a special function on the membership, was even pinched from Brentford by the Blues.

“We now have not been ok, at occasions we’ve got been bullied and we have to enhance at that,” mentioned Levi Colwill to Sky.

“However we belief in our set-piece coach; we’re nonetheless adjusting to new issues, however we do want to enhance as a workforce.”

It isn’t the one space the place Chelsea want to enhance defensively. The way in which they permit groups to penetrate their defensive third is among the many worst within the division – they’ve gone 22 straight Premier League video games with no clear sheet.

On common, Chelsea concede 2.2 non-penalty targets per recreation. They usually should, as a result of the xG numbers say they’re anticipated to permit that very same variety of photographs on course on their aim.

What does not assistance is a transparent lack of ability to guard the penalty space. Chelsea are additionally within the high three this season for conceding photographs in their very own penalty space on common, permitting round 10 per recreation. Their goalkeepers get used as a battering ram.

With defensive numbers like these, it is no marvel Chelsea have been unable to carry onto a lead of their final three league video games.

They explode out of the blocks so shortly – this was the primary Premier League recreation the place they didn’t take the lead within the opening 10 minutes of the sport, however they almost did when Pedro Neto had a great likelihood saved.

After which when Chelsea fall behind, they’ve been pegged again so many occasions that the unhealthy habits kick in. “It is about all the things. It is concerning the mentality, the soccer and the tactical issues that we have to hold bettering,” mentioned Alonso.

“We concede the primary aim, you are still within the recreation however then we lose the form. We have been uncontrolled.”

That management may very well be eased sooner or later when Moises Caicedo returns, however the lack of solidity they’ve with out the Ecuadorian is a priority.

Two summer time recruits in Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco began the Brentford recreation, but it surely was the Bees who seemed stronger in midfield.

Keith Andrews’ facet arguably have the higher squad depth in that space of the pitch as properly – they gained the match 3-0 with report signing Mamadou Sangare sat on the bench for over an hour.

Proper now, Joao Pedro appears like Chelsea’s most influential participant from a goalscoring perspective. The ‘JP Morgan’ frontline was damaged up for the primary time this season – and Chelsea failed to attain for the primary time this season.

After all, it was all the time going to take time for Alonso to implement his concepts at Stamford Bridge. This was a Chelsea workforce with seven summer time signings in its beginning line-up, with the Spaniard the fourth supervisor to take cost of the membership in 9 months.

“It does not occur in a single day,” former Chelsea captain Gary Cahill instructed Sky Sports activities. “I believe with what you are saying he can be judged within the subsequent 5, six, seven weeks to get this proper as a result of you’ll have that point on the coaching floor after which we must always begin to see his strategies coming by means of as a result of we have seen him in an attacking sense.”

“It isn’t simply set-pieces,” mentioned Alonso on the place Chelsea have to enhance. “In defensive duels, build-up and controlling video games.” That being mentioned, there aren’t many extra elements of the sport apart from these 4.

“We have got quite a bit to work on over the worldwide break,” added Colwill. He can say that once more.