Chelsea suffered a home defeat to Brentford before the international break, marking the first time the Blues have lost at that stadium since 1938. The Athletic published an article analyzing the many pressing problems facing new manager Xabi Alonso.

The arrival of Chelsea's new manager initially generated considerable optimism, but the team has managed only 7 points in their first five Premier League matches—a performance below expectations. The season is still long, but what key problems should Alonso prioritize?

Fix the defense

This is priority number one. Chelsea has conceded the most goals in the Premier League, with 12 conceded. They have conceded at least 2 goals in every match and have failed to keep a clean sheet in 21 consecutive Premier League games. Alonso has attempted to adjust personnel and systems (three- and four-defender formations), but neither has been effective.

It is understandable that the two new centre-back signings from the summer, Lacroix and goalkeeper Damian Martínez, are still developing their partnership. Colwill, another key defender, is readapting to regular playing time after missing most of last season with a serious knee injury, and Alonso has increasingly used him at left-back, a less familiar position for him. Injuries are also a factor.

Chelsea's average possession was only 32.4% when they won their first two league matches. Since then, this figure has risen to 47.4%, indicating that Chelsea has had more possession but won only 1 point. This could suggest that opponents are more cautious about Chelsea's attack but also more patient, knowing that Alonso's defense will eventually make mistakes. Brentford is a prime example; on Friday, they had less than 34% possession in the second half but scored all three goals.

Recover key players

Alonso has made clear he does not want to use injuries as an excuse, but they are undoubtedly a factor in the season's early problems. The absence of key midfielder Moisés Caicedo has been particularly impactful. The Ecuadorian international has played only 14 minutes due to a calf injury in pre-season. Summer signing Estêvão was Chelsea's best player in pre-season but has not yet debuted due to a quadriceps injury. Estêvão can provide the height and pace needed for the winger 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. Although they were sorely missed against Brentford, the timing of their injuries meant most of their recovery period coincided with Chelsea's days without matches.

Reduce overreliance on the front three

The performances of Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and João Félix have been the standout bright spots. The trio has contributed 8 of Chelsea's 10 league goals and 6 of their 9 assists. Injuries or a dip in form can affect even the best players, and the Brentford match served as a reminder for Chelsea. João Félix was unavailable, Rogers had his quietest performance since joining, and although Palmer was involved in Chelsea's best attacking moments, his threat gradually faded as the second half progressed.

Chelsea needs other players to step up. Pedro Neto and Lavia are the only other players to have scored in the Premier League, while Hato (2) and Lacroix (1) are the only others to have recorded assists. Palmer, Rogers, and João Félix are still expected to be the main threat, but Alonso must be careful not to fall into a situation where opponents believe "stopping these three stops Chelsea."

Address lack of midfield protection options

When the summer transfer window closed, midfield already appeared to be a weak point, and it has proven to be so. Selling Enzo for up to £175 million and Andriy Santos were smart financial moves, while Dario Shad was loaned to Strasbourg for regular first-team action. However, with Caicedo and summer signing Kieran Henderson missing most matches due to injuries, the midfield looks thin on personnel.

Lavia and James have had fitness issues for several seasons. They have started together in three of five matches but have yet to form a convincing partnership, and Lavia has not completed a full 90 minutes in a competitive match since arriving from Southampton in 2023. Alonso has tried other combinations: Gusto and Lavia against Brighton, and Valentín Barco paired with Henderson against Brentford. He is still searching for answers. The ease with which opponents can counter Chelsea's defense is one reason for the high goal concession rate. The midfield is not providing sufficient protection.

Caicedo's return will help greatly. Chelsea attempted to sign Lamine Camara from Monaco, but the deal did not materialize. Chelsea is expected to explore midfield options when the January window reopens, but Alonso must find a stable partnership before then.

Make better use of substitutions

Some of Alonso's substitution decisions have been surprising. The quality of Palmer, Rogers, and João Félix means you obviously want to keep them on the pitch as long as possible. But this does not mean offensive substitutes should wait so long to enter. Take Estêvão, for example. He has made four substitute appearances in the Premier League, entering in the 83rd minute (Fulham), 81st minute (Arsenal), 86th minute (Hull City), and 87th minute (Brentford). It is difficult to impact a match in such limited time, even for the most talented players. In his last three appearances, he replaced Pedro Neto, who drops deeper but offers little in the attacking third.

Against Arsenal, trailing 1-2, Alonso brought on Chukwuemeka and Gusto in the 60th minute, well before introducing attackers Welbeck and Estêvão in the 87th minute to chase the tie. A similar situation occurred against Hull City when Chelsea needed a goal to win at 2-2 (Welbeck entered in the 78th minute; Estêvão was one of only two attacking substitutes among five changes). When trying to mount a comeback against Brentford, 20-year-old Josh Acheampong was the oldest of four substitutes, while talented 16-year-old Nicol Azziouline made his professional debut in extremely difficult circumstances.

Alonso made four half-time substitutions in the League Cup against Leeds United, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 6-3 victory, proving he can influence a match. He needs to demonstrate this in Premier League matches as well.

Improve set-piece defending

Brentford took the lead with a simple corner play. This means Chelsea has now conceded 5 set-piece goals, putting them in last place in the Premier League for set-piece defense. Set-piece coach Austin MacPhee was hired from Aston Villa this summer to improve this area—last season they conceded 17 goals, with only three teams conceding more—but there has been no improvement yet. This can be partly attributed to the early stage of the season and players adapting to new demands. However, this cannot excuse having the league's worst record (conversely, Chelsea has scored 4 set-piece goals, tying with opponents).

Traducido por IA.

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