Xabi Alonso’s post‑match comments after Chelsea’s 3‑0 defeat to Brentford summed up a growing sense of frustration at Stamford Bridge: “You need to feel it. We’re not feeling it.” The sentiment captures a club that seems to be stuck in a familiar, uncomfortable loop. This loss marked Chelsea’s eleventh defeat of the calendar year – already more than the total they suffered in the entire 2025 season – with three months still left before the year ends. It also continued a worrying pattern of conceding at least two goals for the fifth consecutive Premier League match under Alonso’s stewardship, and it highlighted the team’s ongoing set‑piece problems.
Alonso lamented the drop in consistency and the loss of the competitive mentality that should have been evident in the second half. For supporters, the most glaring issue was how easily Brentford seized control after the break. The Blues have been out‑battled in numerous games, a trend that mirrors last season when they were regularly outrun by opponents. The Brentford encounter reinforced the notion that Chelsea are struggling to compete physically and tactically in the middle and defensive thirds of the pitch.
Set‑piece defending was a particular nightmare. Brentford’s long throws and well‑rehearsed corners proved decisive, and, just as they had against Hull City a week earlier, Chelsea surrendered a goal from a dead‑ball situation. This was the fourth goal conceded from a set‑piece in five league games, taking their total since the start of the previous season to 23 – a figure that ties them for the worst in the Premier League. In the decisive moment, the ball was lofted directly onto the back post where Emiliano Martínez was positioned, and neither the goalkeeper nor the outfield players could react in time.
Brentford’s players anticipated the delivery, showing that Chelsea’s defensive organization on set pieces is still a work in progress. Vitaly Janelt confirmed the pre‑match plan, saying they had identified the back post as a target at halftime and that the first corner of the second half was aimed there. Despite having Austin MacPhee, widely regarded as the league’s top dead‑ball coach, the Blues continue to suffer. Bernardo Cueva, the former set‑piece specialist who now occupies a different role at Chelsea, was even poached by Brentford during the match, underscoring the club’s difficulty in translating coaching expertise into on‑field results.
Levi Colwill admitted that the team had been “bullied” at times and needed to improve, while also expressing confidence in the set‑piece coach and acknowledging that the squad was still adapting to new ideas. Defensive frailties extend beyond set pieces.
Chelsea have now endured 22 straight Premier League fixtures without a clean sheet, a statistic that places them among the worst in the division for protecting the defensive third. On average, they concede 2.2 non‑penalty goals per game, a figure that aligns closely with their expected goals (xG) against – indicating that the quality of chances they allow is genuinely high. Moreover, they rank in the top three for shots conceded inside their own penalty area, with roughly ten such attempts per match, turning their goalkeeper into a regular target for opposition firepower. These numbers help explain why Chelsea have struggled to hold onto leads in their last three league outings.
They often start brightly – this was the first Premier League game of the season where they failed to take the lead within the opening ten minutes, though they came close when Pedro Neto’s chance was saved. Yet once they fall behind, the team’s shape quickly deteriorates.
Alonso summed it up: “We concede the first goal, you’re still in the game but then we lose the shape. We were out of control.” The loss of structure after conceding is a recurring theme that the manager is keen to address.
The return of Moisés Caicedo could provide a stabilising presence in midfield, but his absence has highlighted the lack of solidity in the centre of the park. Two of the summer signings, Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco, started against Brentford, yet the Bees appeared stronger in midfield.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews arguably has greater depth in that area, and his side secured a 3‑0 victory even with record signing Mamadou Sangaré watching from the bench for most of the game. In attack, João Pedro has emerged as Chelsea’s most influential scorer this season, but the team’s front line – nicknamed the “JP Morgan” trio – was broken up for the first time, and Chelsea failed to find the net altogether. This underscores the broader issue that the squad is still adapting to Xabi Alonso’s philosophy. With seven new signings in the starting eleven and Alonso being only the fourth manager in nine months, it is unrealistic to expect an overnight transformation.
Former captain Gary Cahill offered perspective, noting that Alonso will be judged over the next five to seven weeks as the team has time on the training ground to embed his ideas. He highlighted that while the attacking play has shown promise, defensive improvement is essential. Alonso himself identified four key areas for progress: set‑piece defending, defensive duels, build‑up play, and overall game control.
These components are interlinked; failing in one often cascades into the others. Looking ahead, the international break provides a crucial window for reflection and work. Colwill reiterated the need for collective effort during the pause, emphasizing that the entire squad must focus on tightening defensive responsibilities, improving communication, and restoring the mental resilience that has been lacking.
The upcoming fixtures will test whether Chelsea can translate training ground adjustments into tangible results, reduce the number of goals they concede, and finally break the long‑standing clean‑sheet drought that has haunted them this season.