Chelsea’s recent 3-0 defeat at Brentford has laid bare a series of defensive shortcomings that have become all too familiar for the club 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, by the end of October, had already produced eleven losses, a tally that eclipses the entire 2025 campaign despite there being three months left in the calendar year. The pattern is unmistakable: for the fifth consecutive Premier League match, Chelsea have allowed at least two goals, and their vulnerability on set‑pieces has become a recurring nightmare.
Alonso lamented the loss of consistency and the missing competitive edge in the second half, a criticism that will resonate most strongly with a fan base that has watched the team surrender control time and again. Brentford capitalised on this dip in intensity, taking the game to the Blues with relative ease after the interval. The underlying issue, however, goes beyond a single half‑time lull. Throughout last season, Chelsea were routinely outrun and out‑battled by opponents, and those deficiencies have resurfaced with renewed vigor.
Set‑piece problems have been particularly acute. In the Brentford fixture, the visitors’ long throws and well‑rehearsed corners proved decisive, mirroring a similar scenario against Hull where a poorly defended corner resulted in a goal.
This marks the fourth set‑piece concession in five league games, pushing Chelsea’s total to 23 goals conceded from dead‑ball situations since the start of the previous season – a figure that ties them for the worst in the Premier League. The most recent goal was a textbook example of poor organisation: a cross was delivered directly to the back post, landing on Emiliano Martínez’s shoulders, and neither the keeper nor the surrounding defenders could react in time. Brentford’s players anticipated the delivery, underscoring the gap between preparation and execution. Even with Austin MacPhee now occupying the role of the league’s most respected dead‑ball coach, the Blues have struggled to translate tactical instruction into on‑field stability.
Bernardo Cueva, who previously oversaw Chelsea’s set‑piece routines before moving to a different position within the club, was even targeted by Brentford’s analysts, highlighting the competitive edge other teams are seeking. Defender Levi Colwill admitted to Sky Sports that the side has been “bullied” at times and that improvement is essential, while also expressing confidence in the set‑piece coach’s methods, acknowledging that the team is still adjusting to new systems. Beyond set‑pieces, Chelsea’s overall defensive record is alarming. The team has now endured 22 straight Premier League matches without 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 result of bad luck; the quality and volume of shots they allow align closely with the goals they actually concede. Moreover, Chelsea rank among the top three clubs for the number of shots they permit inside their own penalty area – roughly ten per match – effectively turning their goalkeeper into a constant target for opposition firepower. These defensive frailties explain why Chelsea have struggled to preserve leads in their most recent league outings. In the Brentford game, they failed to score within the opening ten minutes – a first for the club this season – only to come close when Pedro Neto’s effort was saved.
When the team does fall behind, they often lose shape quickly, as Alonso observed: "We concede the first goal, you're still in the game but then we lose the shape. We were out of control." This loss of structure is compounded by a lack of composure in defensive duels and an inability to transition effectively from defence to attack. The return of midfield dynamo Moisés Caicedo could provide a measure of stability, but his absence has highlighted the squad’s dependence on his ball‑winning and distribution skills. Summer signings Jordan Henderson and Valentín Barco started the Brentford match, yet the Bees’ midfield appeared more cohesive and disciplined.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews arguably fielded a deeper bench, with record signing Mamadou Sangaré remaining unused for over an hour, suggesting that Chelsea’s squad depth in the middle of the park may still be insufficient. Up front, João Pedro has emerged as Chelsea’s most influential attacking player, but the team’s front line – nicknamed the "JP Morgan" trio – was broken up for the first time this season, resulting in a goalless performance. This underscores the broader challenge Alonso faces: integrating seven new signings into a starting XI while being only the fourth manager to lead the club in nine months. Former captain Gary Cahill reminded the media that such transformations take time, noting that Alonso will be judged on his progress over the next five to seven weeks as the team settles on the training ground.
Alonso’s own assessment goes beyond set‑pieces. He identified four critical areas for improvement: defensive duels, build‑up play, game control, and, of course, set‑piece defence. Each of these facets is interconnected; a failure in one often cascades into the others. For instance, losing battles in the defensive third leads to more shots inside the box, which in turn strains the goalkeeper and erodes confidence across the back line.
Looking ahead, the international break offers a valuable window for intensive work on these shortcomings. Colwill echoed Alonso’s sentiment, emphasizing that the squad must use the pause to address the myriad issues that have plagued their performances. While the road to recovery will be steep, a focused approach on tactical discipline, set‑piece organisation, and midfield solidity could gradually restore the competitive edge that Chelsea supporters crave.
Until then, the club’s defensive record will remain a glaring reminder of the work still required under Xabi Alonso’s stewardship.