Chelsea’s recent 3-0 defeat at Brentford has laid bare a series of defensive frailties that have become all too familiar under new manager Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard’s post‑match comments – "You need to feel it.
We're not feeling it" – summed up a season that is already heading toward a disastrous tally of eleven losses, a figure that exceeds the club’s total defeats in the entire 2025 calendar year with three months still to play. Alonso highlighted a loss of consistency and a missing competitive edge in the second half, a concern that will undoubtedly keep Blues supporters up at night. Brentford capitalised on this dip in intensity, taking the game away from Chelsea with relative ease after the interval.
The pattern of being out‑battled has been recurring; last season the Blues were outrun in the majority of their Premier League fixtures, and that trend has not improved. A major source of the problem has been set‑pieces.
The match against Brentford reminded everyone of the danger posed by well‑executed corners and long throws. Chelsea surrendered another goal from a dead‑ball situation, marking the fourth such concession in five league games.
Since the start of the previous season, the club has allowed 23 set‑piece goals, putting them level for the worst record in the Premier League. In the latest incident, a cross was delivered directly onto the back post where Emiliano Martínez was positioned, but neither the keeper nor the outfield players reacted in time, and Brentford’s players anticipated the delivery a mile away. Even with Austin MacPhee, who is widely regarded as the league’s premier dead‑ball specialist, on staff, Chelsea’s set‑piece defence remains porous. Bernardo Cueva, the former set‑piece coach who now occupies a different role at the club, was even poached by Brentford during the game.
Levi Colwill admitted that the team has been “bullied” at times and that improvement is essential, while also expressing confidence in the set‑piece coaching staff. Beyond dead‑ball situations, Chelsea’s overall defensive structure is collapsing. The Blues have gone 22 consecutive Premier League matches without keeping a clean sheet, conceding an average of 2.2 non‑penalty goals per game. Expected‑goals (xG) data suggests that this figure is not merely a matter of bad luck; the team is statistically likely to allow that many quality shots on target each match.
Moreover, they rank among the top three sides for the number of shots they allow inside their own penalty area – roughly ten per game – turning their goalkeeper into a reluctant shield. These defensive shortcomings explain why Chelsea have struggled to protect leads in their last three league outings.
The team often bursts out of the blocks, as evidenced by the fact that this was the first Premier League match in which they failed to score within the opening ten minutes, despite Pedro Neto creating a clear chance that was saved. Once they fall behind, the squad frequently reverts to familiar bad habits, losing shape and composure. 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 return of Moisés Caicedo could provide some stability in midfield, but his absence has highlighted a lack of solidity that the Ecuadorian usually supplies.
Summer signings Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco started the Brentford match, yet the Bees appeared stronger in the middle of the park. Brentford manager Keith Andrews arguably possesses deeper squad depth in that area, and his side managed to keep the record signing Mamadou Sangaré on the bench for more than an hour while still securing a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Offensively, João Pedro has emerged as Chelsea’s most influential scorer this season, but the ‘JP Morgan’ front line was dismantled for the first time, leaving the Blues goalless for the first time this campaign. The lack of firepower only compounds the defensive woes, as the team struggles to respond when they fall behind. Alonso’s task of reshaping the squad will not be completed overnight. This was the first match in which seven of his summer acquisitions started, and he is only the fourth manager to take charge of the club in nine months.
Former captain Gary Cahill reminded the media that the manager will be judged over the next five to seven weeks, a period that should allow him to embed his ideas on the training ground and begin to see tangible results, especially on the attacking front. Alonso himself has identified four key areas for improvement: set‑pieces, defensive duels, build‑up play, and overall game control.
While these categories cover the main deficiencies, they also underscore how many facets of Chelsea’s game require urgent attention. Levi Colwill echoed this sentiment, noting that the squad has “a lot to work on over the international break.” The upcoming pause will be a crucial window for the coaching staff to address tactical lapses, reinforce defensive discipline, and integrate new signings more effectively. In summary, Chelsea’s current defensive crisis is multi‑layered.
From set‑piece vulnerability and an alarming rate of shots allowed inside the box, to a chronic inability to maintain shape after conceding, the problems are systemic rather than isolated. The club’s recent statistical records – 22 games without a clean sheet, an average of 2.2 goals conceded per match, and a joint‑worst tally of 23 set‑piece goals allowed – paint a bleak picture that must be reversed swiftly.
Whether the return of key midfielders, the influence of new signings, or the strategic adjustments of the coaching staff can halt this decline remains to be seen, but the urgency for change is undeniable.