Chelsea began the campaign with a burst of excitement under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, yet a defeat at Arsenal followed by setbacks against Hull City and Brentford have left the club trailing. To reverse this trend, the newly appointed manager must tackle two fundamental problems as the team approaches a crucial stretch of fixtures. That was the conclusion drawn on the most recent Sky Sports Premier League podcast, which evaluated Chelsea's early season performance under their fresh leader.
The discussion highlighted two primary areas of concern: a leaky defence that has, to date, allowed more goals than any other side in the league, and a midfield that has struggled to dominate possession in the absence of an injury‑plagued Moises Caicedo. Looking ahead to Chelsea's next match against Bournemouth—and with a packed itinerary that includes trips to Everton (away), Tottenham Hotspur (home), a Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool (away), a home clash with Manchester United, and an away game at Sunderland before the forthcoming international break—Sky Sports News reporter James Savundra broke down the issues and suggested how Alonso could remedy them. "The defensive problems Chelsea have faced actually pre‑date Alonso's tenure," Savundra began. "It has now been 21 Premier League games since the Blues kept a clean sheet, which is astonishing given the massive turnover and transition the club has undergone in 2026.
For a club of Chelsea's stature, that simply isn't acceptable." He then turned his attention to the goalkeeping situation. "Signing Emi Martinez seemed like a no‑brainer," Savundra noted, referencing the goalkeeper's reputation and his experience in the World Cup final just months earlier.
"However, many fans recognised that Martinez is not quite at the level he displayed two or three seasons ago. The adaptation period has been longer than either he or the club anticipated, and it remains to be seen whether he can regain his previous form." Savundra also praised the arrival of Maxence Lacroix, describing him as a sensible addition who brings experience and the potential for further improvement.
Yet he lamented the injury woes that have forced Alonso to constantly reshuffle the back line. "The preferred three‑centre‑back unit appears to be Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Lacroix, but even Colwill—who impressed in the FA Cup final after returning from injury—has struggled on the left side of defence, especially when Lacroix drops deeper within that trio." The analyst did not overlook the importance of young talent Josh Acheampong, insisting that fans deserve to see him start regularly. "You cannot win trophies without a solid core.
The goalkeeper has had a shaky start, the defence is not yet where it needs to be, and the midfield is far from settled," he warned. Midfield, he argued, is the most pressing concern.
"Caicedo has logged only 14 Premier League minutes this season, and the midfield has been altered week after week. This culminated on Friday Night Football when, to everyone's surprise, Jordan Henderson made his debut for Chelsea, starting alongside Valentin Barco against Brentford." Savundra expressed optimism about the return of Marco Palestra, who impressed during pre‑season as a wing‑back, and the eventual fitness of Caicedo. "When both are available, the midfield will look dramatically different.
The question for the next few months will be which midfielder can audition the best and convince the owners and Alonso that additional signings are unnecessary." He also mentioned Romeo Lavia, who has remained fit and completed full matches, but noted that Lavia did not feature against Brentford, raising questions about his reliability. Reece James, meanwhile, remains sidelined. "The ideal scenario would see Caicedo paired with James," Savundra said, "but James has already shown this season that he still needs to master his defensive responsibilities.
The goal Martin Ødegaard scored for Arsenal was a direct result of James failing to track a runner, and a similar lapse occurred in a game against Leeds." In summary, Savundra urged patience from all corners of the club. "Things will improve dramatically once the squad is fully fit and everyone—Alonso, the owners, the players—exhibits genuine patience. This rebuilding process will take time, but the potential is evident if the key injuries are resolved and the tactical adjustments are implemented." To navigate the upcoming fixtures successfully, Alonso must solidify his defensive line, perhaps by giving Martinez the confidence and support he needs to regain his sharpness, while also establishing a consistent midfield partnership that can control games without over‑relying on a single player.
If he can achieve these objectives, Chelsea could well transform their early‑season turbulence into a platform for sustained success throughout the campaign.