Chelsea began the campaign with an exhilarating display under their new manager Xabi Alonso, but a defeat at Arsenal followed by setbacks against Hull City and Brentford have quickly dampened the optimism. To reverse this downward trend, Alonso must tackle two fundamental problems as the Blues head into a crucial stretch of fixtures.
This assessment was the focus of the latest Sky Sports Premier League podcast, which dissected Chelsea's early season performance under the Spaniard. The first area of concern highlighted was the defensive frailties that have plagued the team. At the time of writing, Chelsea had the dubious distinction of conceding more goals than any other side in the league, and they had gone 21 Premier League matches without keeping a clean sheet—a statistic that underscores the severity of the issue. The second problem centered on the midfield, where injuries have left a vacuum that the squad has struggled to fill, most notably the limited involvement of Moises Caicedo, whose fitness woes have hampered the team's ability to dominate possession and control the tempo of games.
Looking ahead, Chelsea's next league encounter is against Bournemouth, after which they face a packed schedule that includes trips to Everton (away), Tottenham Hotspur (home), a Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool (away), a home game versus Manchester United, and an away fixture against Sunderland before the forthcoming international break. Sky Sports News reporter James Savundra outlined the key challenges and offered insight into how Alonso could potentially resolve them. "The defensive problems Chelsea have been experiencing actually predate Alonso's arrival," Savundra said. "It has now been 21 Premier League matches since the club last recorded a clean sheet, which is astonishing given the massive turnover and transition the team has undergone in 2026.
For a club of Chelsea's stature, this simply isn't acceptable." Savundra then turned his attention to the goalkeeper position, noting that the signing of Emi Martinez initially seemed like a straightforward solution to the long‑standing issues between the posts. "When they brought Martinez in, many fans thought it was a no‑brainer," he explained, "especially after the turmoil the club endured over the past few years in that role. However, there is a growing consensus that Martinez is not performing at the level he displayed two or three seasons ago. He is still adapting, and that adjustment period is taking longer than both he and the club anticipated." The former World Cup champion, who featured in the final just months earlier, still possesses the pedigree to be a top‑class keeper, but his recent form suggests a need for patience and perhaps additional support from the defensive line.
Speaking of the back‑line, Savundra praised the acquisition of Maxence Lacroix, describing him as a sensible addition who brings experience and the potential for further development. Yet, injuries have forced Alonso to constantly reshuffle his defensive personnel, preventing any sense of stability from taking root. "The preferred back three appears to be Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Lacroix," Savundra noted. "Colwill impressed in the FA Cup final after returning from injury, but he has struggled on the left side of defence when Lacroix drops deeper.
This lack of consistency is a major obstacle for Alonso." The discussion then shifted to the midfield, where the scarcity of playing time for Caicedo—only 14 Premier League minutes at the point of the podcast—has been a glaring concern. The midfield has been in a state of flux, with line‑ups changing week after week.
This chaos culminated in a surprising selection on a recent Friday Night Football broadcast: Jordan Henderson, a veteran England captain, started for Chelsea against Brentford alongside Valentin Barco, a move that few had predicted. Savundra speculated that the arrival of Marco Palestra, who impressed during pre‑season as a wing‑back, could provide a new dynamic once he is fully fit.
"When Palestra returns, and if Caicedo can establish himself alongside a reliable midfielder, Chelsea's shape will look dramatically different," he said. The next question, according to the analyst, is which midfielders will seize the opportunity to prove their worth to the club's owners and to Alonso.
"Between now and January, the audition will be open for any midfielder who can consistently deliver," he argued, "and that could negate the need for a big‑ticket signing in the upcoming transfer window." Among the younger players, Romeo Lavia has shown professionalism and durability, completing full matches when called upon. However, his absence from the Brentford game raises questions about his reliability as a regular starter. Reece James, another key figure, remains sidelined with injury, and his return is eagerly awaited.
The ideal scenario, Savundra suggested, would see Caicedo paired with a fully fit James in midfield, but James' recent performances have highlighted defensive lapses, such as failing to track runners in crucial moments against Arsenal and Leeds United. The overarching theme of the conversation was patience. "Things will improve dramatically when the entire squad is healthy," Savundra concluded. "Chelsea needs to give Alonso, the ownership group, and the players the time required to rebuild cohesion." In summary, Alonso's path to restoring Chelsea's fortunes lies in shoring up a leaky defence, stabilising the back line, and finding a consistent midfield formula that maximises the talents of Caicedo, Palestra, and other emerging players.
If injuries subside and the club maintains a measured approach, the Blues could well turn their early-season woes into a platform for a strong second half of the campaign.