Chelsea opened the campaign with a burst of excitement under their new manager Xabi Alonso, yet a defeat at Arsenal followed by setbacks against Hull City and Brentford have seen their momentum stall. To reverse this trend during a crucial stretch of fixtures, Alonso must tackle two fundamental problems that have been highlighted by pundits and fans alike.
The latest Sky Sports Premier League podcast dissected Chelsea's early season form and concluded that the club’s defensive frailties and a midfield lacking cohesion are the primary obstacles standing in the way of progress. The Blues have already allowed more goals than any other side in the league, and their midfield has struggled to dominate possession, especially with the injury‑plagued Moisés Caicedo missing large chunks of action. Looking ahead to the upcoming clash with Bournemouth – and with a packed itinerary that includes trips to Everton (away), Tottenham Hotspur (home), a Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool (away), Manchester United (home) and Sunderland (away) before the next international break – Sky Sports News correspondent James Savundra broke down the issues and offered insight into how Alonso could potentially solve them.
"The defensive woes Chelsea have been experiencing actually pre‑date Alonso’s arrival," Savundra explained. "It’s now been 21 Premier League games since the club last kept a clean sheet, which is astonishing given the massive turnover and transition the squad has undergone in 2026. For an institution of Chelsea’s stature, that simply isn’t acceptable." Savundra turned his attention to the goalkeeping position, noting that the signing of Émi Martínez seemed like an obvious move at the time. "Chelsea struggled with a revolving door of keepers over the past few seasons, and Martínez appeared to be the answer," he said.
"However, many observers feel that he is not quite at the level he displayed two or three years ago. The adaptation period has been longer than anticipated, but there is hope he can rediscover the form that saw him win the World Cup and feature in the final just months earlier." In defence, the analyst praised the acquisition of Maxence Lacroix, describing him as a sensible addition who brings experience while still offering room for improvement.
Yet injuries have forced Alonso to constantly reshuffle his back line. "The preferred three‑centre‑back unit appears to be Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Lacroix," Savundra noted. "Colwill, who impressed in the FA Cup final after returning from injury, has found it difficult to settle on the left side of a back three when Lacroix drops deeper." The conversation then shifted to the midfield, where the lack of consistency has been most glaring.
Caicedo, who has managed only 14 Premier League minutes this season, has been sidelined by a series of niggling injuries. "Chelsea’s midfield has been a revolving door, changing personnel every week," Savundra said. "The most surprising moment came on Friday Night Football when Jordan Henderson made his debut in a Chelsea shirt, starting alongside Valentin Barco against Brentford – a scenario no one could have predicted." Looking forward, Savundra believes the midfield could transform once Marco Palestra returns to full fitness.
"Palestra impressed during pre‑season, especially in his wing‑back role, and his presence alongside Caicedo would give Alonso a more reliable engine in the middle of the park," he suggested. "The real question now is which midfielder can seize the opportunity and convince the ownership and Alonso that they don’t need to splash cash in the upcoming transfer window." The pundit also highlighted the importance of young talent such as Romeo Lavia, who has remained fit and completed full matches, but was omitted from the Brentford game. "Can you rely on Lavia as a regular starter?
That remains to be seen," Savundra asked. He then turned to the ever‑crucial right‑back Reece James, who is again battling fitness issues. "The ideal scenario would be a partnership of Caicedo and James, but James has shown this season that he still needs to master the defensive responsibilities of his role.
The goal that Martin Ødegaard scored for Arsenal was a direct result of James failing to track a runner, and a similar lapse occurred against Leeds." In summary, Savundra concluded that Chelsea’s fortunes will improve dramatically when the squad is fully fit and when patience is exercised across the board. "From the manager to the owners, everyone must understand that rebuilding a side of this magnitude takes time," he said. "If Alonso can keep his core players healthy, solidify the back line with Fofana, Colwill and Lacroix, and find a balanced midfield partnership – perhaps Palestra with Caicedo or Lavia stepping up – the Blues can halt the slide and start challenging for honours once again." The upcoming fixtures will serve as a litmus test for Alonso’s ability to implement these adjustments.
A win against Bournemouth could restore confidence, while strong performances against the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United would demonstrate that the defensive and midfield issues are being resolved. Until then, Chelsea supporters will be watching closely, hoping that the manager’s tactical tweaks and the gradual return of injured stars will finally bring the stability and resilience that have been missing from Stamford Bridge this season.