Xabi Alonso lamented after Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford, "You need to feel it. We're not feeling it." The sentiment captures a familiar frustration that has settled over the Blues.
This loss marked Chelsea’s eleventh defeat of the calendar year – already more than they suffered in the entire 2025 season, with three months still to play. For the fifth consecutive Premier League match under Alonso, the team has surrendered at least two goals, and the recurring set‑piece problems have become a glaring issue.
Alonso admitted, "We dropped our consistency, our competitive mentality needed in the second half," a shortfall that will undoubtedly worry the fanbase. Brentford seized the second half with ease, exposing the lack of intensity and focus that Chelsea has struggled to maintain. The pattern is familiar: Chelsea are being out‑battled across the pitch, a problem that mirrors their tendency to be outrun in most league games last season.
One of the first things that comes to mind when facing Brentford is the danger of set‑pieces – long throws, clever corners, and the like. Much like the previous encounter with Hull, Chelsea lost their grip on the match after conceding yet another set‑piece goal. This was the fourth goal they have allowed from a dead‑ball situation in five league fixtures, taking their total since the start of last season to 23 – a figure that ties them for the worst in the Premier League.
The decisive moment came when the ball was lofted directly onto Emiliano Martínez at the back post. Neither the keeper nor the surrounding defenders could react in time, and Brentford’s players anticipated the delivery a mile away. Vitaly Janelt confirmed the plan, telling Sky Sports, "We targeted the back post at half‑time.
There was a big gap at the far post, and we aimed at it with our first corner of the second half." Despite having Austin MacPhee, who is widely regarded as the league’s best dead‑ball coach, Chelsea’s set‑piece execution remains porous. Bernardo Cueva, the former set‑piece specialist now in a different role, was even intercepted by Brentford during the match. Levi Colwill echoed the frustration, saying, "We have not been good enough, at times we have been bullied and we need to improve at that." He added, "We trust our set‑piece coach; we are still adjusting to new ideas, but we must improve as a team." The set‑piece woes are only one facet of Chelsea’s defensive crisis. Their inability to protect the defensive third ranks among the poorest in the division, highlighted by a staggering 22‑game stretch without a clean sheet.
Statistically, Chelsea concede an average of 2.2 non‑penalty goals per match. Expected‑goals (xG) data suggests they are indeed allowing roughly that number of quality shots on target, indicating that the defensive frailties are not merely a matter of bad luck. Moreover, Chelsea sit in the top three this season for the number of shots they allow inside their own penalty area – about ten per game – turning their goalkeeper into a frequent target of relentless pressure.
These defensive deficiencies explain why Chelsea have struggled to preserve leads in their last three league outings. They tend to burst out of the blocks with vigor, yet this particular game was the first Premier League match in which they failed to take the lead within the opening ten minutes. Pedro Neto came close, only to see his effort saved.
When the Blues eventually fell behind, they were repeatedly pinned back, allowing old habits to resurface. Alonso summed it up: "It’s about everything – mentality, the football, and the tactical aspects we need to keep improving. We concede the first goal, you’re still in the game, but then we lose shape.
We were out of control." Looking ahead, the return of Moisés Caicedo could provide a measure of stability, but his absence has highlighted the lack of solidity in midfield and defense. Two of the summer signings, Jordan Henderson and Valentin 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 despite record signing Mamadou Sangaré spending over an hour on the bench.
At present, João Pedro stands out as Chelsea’s most influential attacking player, but even his contributions could not prevent a goalless night – the first time this season that the "JP Morgan" front line failed to find the net. It is worth remembering that Alonso is still in the early stages of installing his philosophy at Stamford Bridge. The starting XI featured seven of the club’s summer acquisitions, and Alonso is only the fourth manager to take charge in nine months. Former captain Gary Cahill offered perspective, telling Sky Sports, "It doesn’t happen overnight.
I think he will be judged over the next five, six, seven weeks because you will have that time on the training ground and then we should start to see his methods coming through because we have seen him in an attacking sense." Alonso himself broadened the scope of required improvement, stating, "It’s not just set‑pieces. We need to get better in defensive duels, build‑up play, and controlling games." Those four areas – set‑pieces, duels, build‑up, and game control – encompass virtually every aspect of Chelsea’s current shortcomings.
Colwill added that the squad has "a lot to work on over the international break," a sentiment that will likely be echoed throughout the dressing room. The break offers a chance for the coaching staff to reinforce defensive structures, refine set‑piece routines, and restore the competitive mentality that has been missing.
Until those adjustments are made, Chelsea’s defensive record will continue to be a glaring vulnerability, and fans will have to endure more frustrating performances before the promised turnaround materialises.