Premier League: Xabi Alonso Admits Chelsea'S Defensive Struggle, Insists Conceding Fewer Goals is a Must

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has acknowledged his team's defensive struggles, insisting that conceding fewer goals will be crucial as they look to maintain their strong start to the Premier League season. Chelsea have collected 16 points from nine matches and are fourth in the standings.

While they have scored 19 goals in the campaign, their defensive record remains an area of concern, having conceded 15 goals in the same period. Speaking in an interview shared by JioStar, Alonso admitted that there was no single reason behind Chelsea's defensive shortcomings but expressed confidence that the team could address the issue through better organisation and collective responsibility.

"There isn't just one reason behind our defence conceding a lot of goals, but for sure it's one area we are determined to do better in, and I think we will. We are in that process and developing, but we need to compete and know that conceding fewer goals is a must.

We have been working on our shape and our positioning without the ball. A lot of the goals we have conceded have come from small mistakes, not from the opposition cutting us open.

That is a positive, because it means the problem is fixable," Alonso said in an interview shared by JioStar. "We need to be more compact as a unit, win our duels, and make better decisions in the final third.

The players know this and they are taking responsibility. Defending is not just about the back four.

It starts from the front, with how we press and how we track back. It's probably impossible not to concede at all, but to concede less is very possible.

Once we get that right across the whole team, the clean sheets will come." Chelsea will next face Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday, with live action available on JioHotstar and Star Sports, as Alonso's side look to continue their push towards the top of the standings while addressing their defensive concerns. Alonso also identified Cole Palmer's role as a central attacking midfielder, explaining how the England international's positioning and contribution on and off the ball can benefit Chelsea.

"For me, the best position for Cole Palmer is that of a central attacking midfielder."