Chelsea suffered an away defeat to Brentford before the international break, marking their first loss at that stadium since 1938. The Athletic published an article analyzing the numerous pressing problems facing new head coach Enzo Alonzo.

The arrival of new head coach Enzo Alonzo sparked significant optimism, but the team has earned just 7 points from their first five Premier League matches, falling short of expectations. The season is still long, but what key issues must Alonzo address first?

Strengthen the defense

This is the top priority. Chelsea have conceded the most goals in the Premier League—12 so far. They have conceded at least 2 goals in every match and have failed to keep a clean sheet in 21 consecutive Premier League games. Alonzo has tried changing personnel and adjusting systems—both with three and four defenders—but neither has worked.

It's clear that two new center-backs signed over the summer, Lacroix and goalkeeper Emi Martinez, are still building understanding. Another key defender, Levi Colwill, is readapting to regular play after missing much of last season with a serious knee injury, and Alonzo has increasingly used him in the unfamiliar left-back position. Injuries are also a factor.

Chelsea's average possession was just 32.4% in their first two league wins. That figure has since risen to 47.4%, indicating Chelsea are dominating the ball but earning just 1 point. This may suggest opponents are being more cautious against Chelsea's attack, but also more patient, knowing Alonzo's defense will eventually make errors. Brentford exemplified this; on Friday they had less than 34% possession in the second half but scored all three of their goals.

Return key players to full fitness

Alonzo has made clear he doesn't want to use injuries as an excuse, but they are certainly a factor in the season's poor start. The absence of key midfielder Moises Caicedo has been particularly damaging. The Ecuador international has played just 14 minutes due to a calf injury sustained in preseason. Summer signing Palastra was Chelsea's standout player in preseason but has yet to debut due to a quadriceps injury. Palastra can provide the much-needed physicality and pace for the wing-back position.

Both are expected to return when the Premier League resumes next month. Forward João Félix (knee injury) and captain Reece James (hamstring) will also be available soon. Though greatly missed against Brentford, the timing of their injuries meant much of their recovery coincided with Chelsea's fixture-free periods.

Avoid over-reliance on the attacking trio

Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and João Félix have been the biggest positives. The trio has scored 8 of Chelsea's 10 league goals and provided 6 of 9 assists. Injuries or poor form can affect even the best players, and the Brentford match reminded Chelsea of this. João Félix was unavailable, Rogers had his most subdued performance since arriving, and though Palmer was involved in Chelsea's best moments, his threat gradually faded through the second half.

Chelsea need other players to step up. Pedro Neto and Romeo Lavia are the only other Premier League goalscorers, while Hato (2) and Lacroix (1) are the only others with assists. Palmer, Rogers, and João Félix should remain the primary threat, but Alonzo must guard against opponents thinking: "stop these three, and you stop Chelsea."

Address the shortage of midfield options

The midfield looked like a potential weak point when the summer transfer window closed—and that has been confirmed. Selling Enzo Fernández and André Santos for a combined £175 million was good business for squad balance, and Dario Essugo was loaned to Strasbourg for regular playing time. But with Moises Caicedo and summer signing J. Henderson missing most of the season through injury, the midfield looks understaffed.

Romeo Lavia and Reece James have had fitness issues for several seasons. They started in three of five matches but have been unconvincing as a pair, and Romeo Lavia has yet to complete 90 minutes in a competitive match since his 2023 move from Southampton. Alonzo has tried other combinations—Malo Gusto and Romeo Lavia against Brighton, and Valentin Barko alongside J. Henderson against Brentford. He's still searching for answers. The ease with which opponents can counter through Chelsea's defense is one reason for the high number of conceded goals. The midfield isn't providing enough protection.

Moises Caicedo's return will help significantly. Chelsea attempted to sign Lamine Kama from Monaco but failed. Chelsea are expected to explore midfield options when the January window opens, but Alonzo must find a stable partnership before then.

Use substitutes more effectively

Some of Alonzo's substitution decisions have been questionable. The quality of Palmer, Rogers, and João Félix means you naturally want to keep them on the pitch as long as possible. But that doesn't mean attacking substitutes should wait so long to enter the game. Take Estêvão Willian, for example. He came off the bench four times in the Premier League, appearing in the 83rd minute (Fulham), 81st minute (Arsenal), 86th minute (Hull City), and 87th minute (Brentford). It's difficult to influence a match in such limited time, even for the most talented players. His last three appearances were all replacing Pedro Neto, who works harder defensively but offers little in the attacking third.

Against Arsenal, trailing 2–1, Alonzo brought on Chukwuemeka and Malo Gusto in the 60th minute, well before introducing attacking players Neto and Estêvão in the 87th minute to equalize. A similar situation occurred against Hull City, when Chelsea needed a winning goal at 2–2 (Neto came on in the 78th minute, while Estêvão was one of only two attacking players among five substitutes). When attempting a comeback against Brentford, 20-year-old Josh Acheampong was the oldest of four substitutes, while talented 16-year-old Nico Yazuli made his professional debut in extremely difficult circumstances.

Alonzo made four half-time changes in the League Cup tie against Leeds United, turning a 1–0 deficit into a 6–3 victory, proving his ability to influence games. He must demonstrate this in Premier League matches as well.

Fix the set-piece issue

Brentford went ahead from a simple corner routine. Chelsea have now conceded 5 goals from set pieces, the worst record in the Premier League. Set-piece coach Austin MacPhee was hired from Aston Villa this summer to improve this area—last season Chelsea conceded 17 goals from set pieces, and only three teams conceded more—but there has been no improvement so far. This can be partially attributed to the season's early stage and players adapting to new demands. But it cannot excuse the league's worst performance (conversely, Chelsea have scored 4 goals from set pieces, the joint-best in the league).

Переведено ИИ.

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