“You need to feel it. We’re not feeling it,” said Xabi Alonso after Chelsea’s 3-0 loss at Brentford. Yet Chelsea are stuck in a familiar feeling.
Another defeat marks their 11th of the calendar year—a total surpassing their entire count for 2025, with three months still remaining. This also represents the fifth consecutive Premier League match under Alonso where the team has conceded at least two goals, compounded by ongoing struggles with set-pieces.
“We dropped our consistency, our competitive mentality needed in the second half,” said Alonso. That admission will be the primary concern for Chelsea supporters, as Brentford found it far too easy to seize control after the interval.
Another persistent trend is Chelsea being physically outmatched. It is worth noting that they were outrun in the vast majority of their Premier League fixtures throughout the previous campaign.
The primary concern when facing Brentford is their prowess from dead-ball situations, including long throws and clever corner routines. Just as they did against Hull in their previous outing, Chelsea surrendered control of the game by conceding from a set-piece once again.
This marked the fourth goal they have allowed from a set-piece in five Premier League matches. It brings their total since the start of last season to 23, the joint-worst record of any side in the division.
Once more, the ball was delivered directly toward the back post, leaving both the goalkeeper and the defenders unable to react. Perhaps most frustrating for Chelsea is that Brentford appeared to have anticipated the weakness perfectly.
“We did target [the back post] at half-time,” said Vitaly Janelt to Sky Sports. “There was a big gap at the far post. We targeted that and I think it was our first corner of the second half.”
Chelsea are enduring these set-piece difficulties despite currently employing one of the league’s most highly regarded dead-ball coaches, Austin MacPhee. Furthermore, Bernardo Cueva, who previously served as the club’s set-piece coach before moving into a different role, was originally recruited by the Blues directly from Brentford.
“We have not been good enough, at times we have been bullied and we need to improve at that,” said Levi Colwill to Sky.
“But we trust in our set-piece coach; we are still adjusting to new things, but we do need to improve as a team.”
Defensive vulnerabilities extend beyond set-pieces. Their ability to prevent opponents from penetrating the defensive third is among the worst in the league; they have now gone 22 consecutive Premier League games without keeping a clean sheet.
On average, Chelsea concede 2.2 non-penalty goals per match. This aligns with their expected goals (xG) data, which suggests they are consistently allowing a high volume of shots on target.
Their struggle to protect the penalty area is a significant factor. Chelsea currently rank in the top three for shots conceded inside their own box, allowing approximately 10 per game, often leaving their goalkeepers exposed to constant pressure.
Given these defensive statistics, it is unsurprising that Chelsea have failed to maintain a lead in any of their last three league matches.
They typically start with high intensity—this was the first Premier League game where they failed to lead within the opening 10 minutes, though they came close when Pedro Neto had an effort saved.
Once Chelsea fall behind, they have repeatedly struggled to recover, allowing old habits to resurface. “It’s about everything. It’s about the mentality, the <a said Alonso.
“We concede the first goal, you’re still in the game but then we lose the shape. We were out of control.”
While the return of Moises Caicedo may eventually provide more stability, the lack of solidity in his absence remains a major worry.
Although summer recruits Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco were in the starting XI against Brentford, the Bees appeared the more dominant side in midfield.
Keith Andrews’ team arguably possesses superior squad depth in that area; they secured a 3-0 victory while their record signing, Mamadou Sangare, remained on the bench for over an hour.
At present, Joao Pedro appears to be Chelsea’s most significant attacking threat. The ‘JP Morgan’ frontline was dismantled for the first time this season, resulting in Chelsea failing to find the net for the first time as well.
Naturally, it was always going to take time for Alonso to instill his philosophy at Stamford Bridge. This lineup featured seven summer signings, and the Spaniard is already the fourth manager to lead the club in nine months.
“It doesn’t happen overnight,” former Chelsea captain Gary Cahill told Sky Sports. “I think with what you’re saying he will be judged in the <a ve seen him in an attacking sense."
“It’s not just set-pieces,” said Alonso regarding the areas requiring improvement. “In defensive duels, build-up and controlling games.” That said, those categories cover almost every fundamental aspect of the sport.
“We’ve got a lot to work on over the international break,” added Colwill. He can say that again.
