Xabi Alonso lamented after Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford, "You need to feel it. We're not feeling it," highlighting a familiar sense of frustration that has settled over the club. This loss marks Chelsea’s eleventh defeat of the calendar year – already more than they recorded in the entire 2025 season – with three months still to play.
For the fifth consecutive Premier League match under Alonso, the Blues have surrendered at least two goals, and their set‑piece vulnerabilities have re‑emerged. Alonso admitted that the team’s consistency and competitive edge vanished in the second half, a point that will undoubtedly alarm supporters. Brentford seized the initiative after halftime with alarming ease, exposing Chelsea’s inability to regain composure.
The pattern is clear: Chelsea are being out‑battled across the pitch, echoing the previous season when they were regularly outrun by opponents. Set pieces have become a recurring nightmare.
Against Brentford, the first thing that comes to mind is the barrage of long throws and clever corners that the opposition deploy. Much like the earlier loss to Hull, Chelsea lost control of the game by conceding yet another goal from a dead‑ball situation.
This was the fourth set‑piece goal they have allowed in five league fixtures, pushing their cumulative tally since the start of last season to 23 – the joint‑worst figure among all Premier League clubs. The decisive moment arrived when a cross was delivered straight onto the back post, landing directly in front of Emiliano Martínez. Neither the keeper nor the outfield players reacted in time, and Brentford capitalised with a goal they had anticipated long before the ball arrived. Vitaly Janelt later told Sky Sports, "We targeted the back post at half‑time.
There was a big gap at the far post, and we hit that with our first corner of the second half." Despite having Austin MacPhee, widely regarded as the league’s best dead‑ball coach, Chelsea continue to struggle. Their former set‑piece specialist, Bernardo Cueva, now occupies a different role at the club and was even observed being “pinched” by Brentford during the match. Levi Colwill echoed the sentiment, 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 acknowledges that collective improvement is essential.
Defensive frailties extend beyond dead‑ball situations. Chelsea’s ability to prevent opponents from penetrating the final third ranks among the league’s poorest, as evidenced by a 22‑game streak without a clean sheet. On average, the team concedes 2.2 non‑penalty goals per match, a figure that aligns with expected goals (xG) data suggesting they are allowing roughly the same number of high‑quality chances they are likely to face.
Moreover, Chelsea rank in the top three for the number of shots they allow inside their own penalty area – about ten per game – turning their goalkeepers into reluctant targets. These defensive shortcomings explain why Chelsea have been unable to preserve leads in their last three league outings.
Uncharacteristically, this was the first Premier League match in which they failed to take the lead within the opening ten minutes, although they came close when Pedro Neto saw a good opportunity saved. When the team does fall behind, they often become disorganised, losing shape and allowing the opposition to dictate play.
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, but his absence has highlighted a worrying lack of solidity in the centre of the park.
Two of the summer signings, Jordan Henderson and Valentín Barco, started the Brentford game, yet the Bees appeared stronger in midfield. Brentford manager Keith Andrews arguably boasts deeper depth in that area, and his side secured a 3‑0 victory while record signing Mamadou Sangaré remained on the bench for most of the match. From an attacking standpoint, João Pedro has emerged as Chelsea’s most influential scorer this season, but even his contributions could not break the deadlock.
The ‘JP Morgan’ front line was dismantled for the first time this campaign, and Chelsea failed to find the net – a first for the club this season. Alonso’s task of imprinting his philosophy on Stamford Bridge will inevitably take time. The current squad features seven new summer arrivals in the starting eleven, and the Spaniard is only the fourth manager to helm the club in nine months.
Former captain Gary Cahill reminded Sky Sports that transformation does not happen overnight, noting that Alonso will be judged over the next five to seven weeks as the team trains and implements his ideas. "We’ve seen his attacking approach, but the defensive side needs equal attention," Cahill said. Alonso identified four key areas for improvement: set‑pieces, defensive duels, build‑up play, and overall game control. These facets encapsulate the broader challenges the Blues face.
Levi Colwill echoed the urgency, stating that the squad has a lot to work on during the international break. The upcoming weeks will be crucial for assessing whether Chelsea can tighten their defence, regain composure, and finally translate their potential into consistent performances on the pitch.