Chelsea’s manager Xabi Alonso lamented the team’s lack of feeling after a 3-0 defeat to Brentford, saying, “You need to feel it. We’re not feeling it.” The comment captures a growing sense of frustration among the Blues, who have now suffered their 11th loss of the calendar year – more defeats than they recorded in the entire 2025 season, with three months still left to play. For the fifth consecutive Premier League match under Alonso, Chelsea have allowed at least two goals, and set‑piece vulnerabilities continue to haunt them.
Alonso identified a loss of consistency and competitive edge in the second half as the main issue, noting that the team’s mentality slipped when Brentford seized control after the break. This decline in intensity is perhaps the most worrying sign for supporters, as it mirrors a pattern that has plagued the club for months: being out‑battled by opponents. Last season, Chelsea were outrun in the majority of their league fixtures, and that trend has not improved. Set‑piece defending was the first problem that surfaced against Brentford.
The Bees excelled with long throws and well‑planned corners, and Chelsea once again found themselves on the back foot, conceding a goal from a dead‑ball situation – the fourth such concession in five league games. Since the start of last season, the Blues have allowed 23 set‑piece goals, a figure that puts them joint‑worst among all Premier League sides. In the latest incident, a cross was delivered directly onto the back post where Emiliano Martínez was unable to react, and the Brentford players anticipated the delivery with precision. Vitaly Janelt explained to Sky Sports that the team specifically targeted the far post at half‑time, creating a “big gap” that Brentford exploited early in the second half.
Despite hiring Austin MacPhee, widely regarded as the league’s top dead‑ball coach, Chelsea’s set‑piece organization remains porous. Bernardo Cueva, the former set‑piece specialist now serving in a different capacity, was even poached by Brentford during the match, underscoring the club’s ongoing struggle to translate expertise into results. Levi Colwill echoed the sentiment, admitting that Chelsea have been “bullied” at times and must improve. He expressed confidence in the set‑piece coach, acknowledging that the squad is still adapting to new routines but emphasizing the need for collective progress.
Beyond dead‑ball situations, Chelsea’s defensive frailties extend to open play. The team has gone 22 straight Premier League fixtures without keeping a clean sheet, conceding an average of 2.2 non‑penalty goals per game. Expected‑goals (xG) data suggests that this rate is not merely a product of bad luck; the Blues are statistically likely to allow roughly the same number of shots on target they have been conceding.
One glaring statistic is Chelsea’s position among the top three clubs for shots allowed inside their own penalty area – about ten per match on average. This relentless pressure forces goalkeepers into a battering‑ram role, eroding confidence and making it difficult to maintain composure.
These defensive shortcomings explain why Chelsea have struggled to protect 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 score within the opening ten minutes, although Pedro Neto came close with a shot that was saved. However, once they fall behind, the team’s shape collapses. 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 a much‑needed shield in midfield, but his absence has highlighted the lack of solidity when the Ecuadorian is unavailable. New signings Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco started against Brentford, yet the Bees appeared stronger in the middle of the park.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews arguably boasts deeper midfield resources, as evidenced by his side’s 3‑0 victory despite record signing Mamadou Sangaré spending most of the match on the bench. 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, and the Blues failed to find the net altogether. The lack of goals compounded the defensive woes, leaving the team unable to respond to Brentford’s early dominance.
Alonso’s task of instilling his philosophy at Stamford Bridge is far from complete. Seven of his summer acquisitions started the Brentford match, and he is only the fourth manager to lead the club in nine months.
Former captain Gary Cahill reminded the media that transformation does not happen overnight, adding that Alonso will be judged on his progress over the next five to seven weeks as training sessions translate into on‑field improvements. According to Alonso, the issues extend beyond set‑pieces: “In defensive duels, build‑up and controlling games.” Those four pillars – set‑piece defending, duels, build‑up play, and game control – encompass virtually every aspect of Chelsea’s current deficiencies. Colwill echoed the need for work over the international break, insisting the squad must address these problems before the next round of fixtures. In summary, Chelsea’s recent 3‑0 loss to Brentford has laid bare a cascade of defensive problems: recurring set‑piece concessions, an alarming rate of shots allowed inside the box, a persistent inability to keep a clean sheet, and a fragile team shape after conceding.
While the arrival of specialist coaches and new players offers hope, the club must quickly convert those resources into a coherent, resilient defensive unit if they are to halt the slide and restore confidence among their fans.