Xabi Alonso lamented after Chelsea's 3-0 defeat at Brentford, "You need to feel it. We're not feeling it." The statement captures the frustration that has settled over the club as it endures yet another loss – the 11th defeat recorded in the current calendar year, a tally that already exceeds the total they managed in the entire 2025 season despite there being three months still left. The pattern is worrying: for the fifth consecutive Premier League match under Alonso, Chelsea have let in at least two goals, and their vulnerability on set‑pieces has become a recurring theme. Alonso pinpointed the loss of consistency and a missing competitive edge in the second half as the main culprits.
Chelsea allowed Brentford to seize control after the break with alarming ease, a scenario that will undoubtedly unsettle the Blues' supporters. This match also reinforced a broader trend that has haunted the team for months – they are being out‑battled across the pitch. Last season, the club was outrun in the majority of league fixtures, and that same deficiency resurfaced against Brentford. Set‑piece defending was the first issue that caught the eye.
Brentford's long throws and clever corner routines proved decisive, mirroring a similar problem faced against Hull in the previous game. Chelsea surrendered another goal from a dead‑ball situation, marking the fourth such concession in five league matches. Since the start of last season, the total has risen to 23 goals allowed from set‑pieces, tying them for the worst record among all Premier League sides.
The most recent goal unfolded when the ball was delivered straight to the back post, landing on Emiliano Martínez's shoulders. Neither the goalkeeper nor the outfield players reacted in time, and Brentford's players seemed to anticipate the delivery a mile away. Vitaly Janelt later explained to Sky Sports that the Blues deliberately targeted the far post at halftime, noting a sizable gap that they hoped to exploit with a corner in the second half.
Despite having Austin MacPhee, widely regarded as the league's top dead‑ball coach, overseeing set‑piece routines, Chelsea continue to struggle. Their former set‑piece specialist, Bernardo Cueva, now occupies a different role within the club, but even his expertise could not prevent Brentford from capitalising on a rehearsed corner.
Levi Colwill admitted to Sky Sports that the team has been "bullied" at times and must improve, while also expressing confidence in MacPhee's guidance as the squad adjusts to new methods. Defensive frailties extend beyond set‑pieces.
Chelsea's ability to shield their defensive third ranks among the poorest in the division, and they have now endured 22 straight Premier League games without keeping a clean sheet. On average, they concede 2.2 non‑penalty goals per match, a figure that aligns closely with expected goals (xG) data, indicating that the quality of chances they allow is statistically high. Moreover, they are among the top three clubs this season in terms of shots faced inside their own penalty area – roughly ten per game – turning their goalkeeper into a constant target for opponents.
These statistics help explain why Chelsea have struggled to preserve leads in their last three league outings. They often start brightly; this was the first Premier League match in which they failed to take the lead within the opening ten minutes, although Pedro Neto came close with a chance that was saved. Yet once they fall behind, the team frequently loses its shape, 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 much‑needed stability in midfield, but his absence has highlighted the lack of solidity when the Ecuadorian is unavailable.
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 fielded a deeper bench, with record signing Mamadou Sangaré watching from the sidelines for over an hour while his side secured a comfortable 3‑0 victory. Offensively, João Pedro emerged as Chelsea's most influential scorer in this fixture, but the "JP Morgan" front line was dismantled for the first time this season, and the Blues failed to find the net altogether – a first for them this campaign. The lack of goals only compounded the defensive woes, underscoring the need for a more balanced approach.
Alonso's task of instilling his philosophy at Stamford Bridge is far from complete. The starting eleven featured seven of the club's summer acquisitions, and he is only the fourth manager to take charge in nine months. Former captain Gary Cahill reminded Sky Sports that transformation does not happen overnight, suggesting that Alonso will be judged over the next five to seven weeks as his ideas take root during training sessions. Beyond set‑pieces, Alonso identified three additional areas requiring urgent improvement: defensive duels, build‑up play, and overall game control.
These aspects, together with set‑piece defending, form the core pillars that must be strengthened if Chelsea hope to climb out of the current slump. Colwill echoed this sentiment after the international break, noting that there is a substantial amount of work to be done. In summary, Chelsea's recent performance against Brentford laid bare a series of interlinked problems: a porous defense, especially on dead balls; an inability to protect the penalty area; a lack of cohesion after conceding; and a midfield that struggles to dominate opponents.
While the squad possesses talent and a highly‑regarded set‑piece coach, translating those assets into consistent results will require time, tactical adjustments, and a renewed competitive mentality. The upcoming fixtures and the international break will provide a crucial window for Alonso and his staff to address these deficiencies and steer the club back toward stability.