Xabi Alonso’s post‑match comments after the 3‑0 defeat to Brentford summed up the mood at Chelsea perfectly: “You need to feel it. We’re not feeling it.” The Blues have slipped into a familiar sense of frustration, recording their 11th loss of the calendar year – a tally that already exceeds what they managed throughout the entirety of 2025, and there are still three months left in the season.
For the fifth consecutive Premier League fixture under Alonso, Chelsea have allowed at least two goals, and their vulnerability on set‑pieces has become a recurring theme. Alonso himself admitted that the team’s “consistency and competitive mentality” evaporated after halftime, a shortcoming that will undoubtedly worry supporters the most. Brentford seized the initiative in the second half with alarming ease, exposing a deeper problem: Chelsea are being out‑battled across the pitch.
This mirrors last season’s trend, when the club were frequently outrun by opponents in the majority of their league matches. Set‑piece defending was the first issue that came to mind when the teams met. Brentford’s long throws and clever corner routines repeatedly put Chelsea under pressure. Much like the previous game against Hull City, the Blues lost control of the encounter after conceding yet another goal from a dead‑ball situation.
In fact, this was the fourth set‑piece goal they have suffered in just five Premier League games, taking their total since the start of last season to 23 – the joint‑worst figure among all top‑flight clubs. The latest concession came when a cross was delivered straight to the back post, landing on top of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. Neither he nor the surrounding defenders reacted in time, and the ball found its way into the net.
Brentford’s players seemed to anticipate the delivery a mile away, highlighting a lack of coordination and awareness in Chelsea’s defensive unit. Vitaly Janelt explained to Sky Sports that the team had specifically targeted the far post at halftime, noting a “big gap” there.
Their first corner of the second half was aimed at that area, yet the execution fell short. Despite employing Austin MacPhee – widely regarded as the league’s premier dead‑ball specialist – Chelsea continue to struggle.
Bernardo Cueva, the club’s former set‑piece coach who now occupies a different role, was even poached by Brentford, underscoring the competitive edge the Bees have gained. Levi Colwill echoed the sentiment of his teammates, saying, “We have not been good enough, at times we have been bullied and we need to improve at that.” He added that the squad still trusts the set‑piece coach and is adjusting to new methods, but emphasized the urgency of collective improvement. Defensive frailties extend beyond dead‑ball situations.
Chelsea’s ability to prevent opponents from penetrating the final third ranks among the poorest in the Premier League. The club has now endured 22 straight league games without a clean sheet.
Statistically, they concede an average of 2.2 non‑penalty goals per match, a figure that aligns closely with their expected goals‑against (xGA) metric, indicating that the problems are not merely a matter of bad luck but are rooted in systemic defensive weaknesses. One glaring statistic is Chelsea’s position in the top three for shots allowed inside their own penalty area – roughly ten per game.
This barrage forces the goalkeeper into a constant state of being a “battering ram,” undermining confidence and making it difficult to organize the back line. These defensive shortcomings help explain why Chelsea have struggled to maintain leads in their last three league outings.
The team often bursts out of the gates with intensity, yet this match marked the first time this season they failed to take the lead within the opening ten minutes, despite Pedro Neto’s near‑miss that was saved. When the Blues fall behind, they frequently lose shape and succumb to a cascade of errors. Alonso summed up the situation: “It’s about everything – mentality, football, and tactical aspects that we need to keep improving.
We concede the first goal, you’re still in the game but then we lose the shape. We were out of control.” Looking ahead, the return of Moisés Caicedo could provide a stabilising influence in midfield, but his absence has highlighted the team’s lack of solidity.
New signings Jordan Henderson and Valentín Barco started the Brentford game, yet the Bees appeared stronger in the middle of the park. Brentford manager Keith Andrews arguably boasts deeper squad depth in that area, and his side secured a 3‑0 victory while record signing Mamadou Sangaré remained on the bench for over an hour.
At present, João Pedro stands out as Chelsea’s most influential attacking player, but even his contributions could not prevent the team from going goalless for the first time this season. The loss also marked the first occasion this campaign that the ‘JP Morgan’ front line was broken up, underscoring the need for a more cohesive offensive strategy.
Patience will be essential for Alonso, who inherited a squad featuring seven summer arrivals in the starting eleven and became only the fourth manager to helm the club in nine months. Former captain Gary Cahill reminded Sky Sports that “it doesn’t happen overnight.” He suggested that Alonso will be judged over the next five to seven weeks, a period that should allow his ideas to take root during training and eventually translate onto the pitch.
Alonso identified four key areas for improvement: set‑pieces, defensive duels, build‑up play, and game control. While these may sound broad, they encapsulate virtually every facet of Chelsea’s current struggles. Levi Colwill added that the team has “a lot to work on over the international break,” a sentiment that will likely be echoed throughout the dressing room as they aim to rectify a season that has, so far, been defined by defensive instability and missed opportunities.