Xabi Alonso Must Fix Chelsea Defense After Poor Premier League Start

Following a first defeat against Brentford since 1938 and only seven points from five matches, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso faces urgent defensive fixes and squad balancing. The club has conceded 12 Premier League goals, prompting a critical reassessment before the international break.

The appointment of a new manager brought high expectations to Stamford Bridge, but the opening stretch of the Premier League season has fallen short of those ambitions. After five fixtures, the team sits with just seven points, leaving plenty for Xabi Alonso to seriously consider during the international break.

Why Is Chelsea's Defense Conceding the Most Goals in the Premier League? Fixing the defensive line stands out as the immediate priority for the club.

Chelsea has conceded 12 goals, the most in the entire division, and has given up at least twice in every single match, while their run without a clean sheet in the championship has reached 21 games. Alonso has experimented with both three-man and four-man defensive setups without finding stability.

Meanwhile, Levi Colwill is adjusting to regular action again after missing much of the previous term with a severe knee injury, operating in an unfamiliar left-sided role. An intriguing statistical shift highlights how opponents have adjusted to the team's approach.

In the opening two fixtures of the campaign, Chelsea won despite holding the ball for an average of just 32.4% of the match. As that possession figure climbed to 47.4% across the subsequent three games, the team managed only a single point.

Rivals appear to show greater respect for the squad's attacking threat while sitting back and waiting for defensive mistakes. Brentford demonstrated this dynamic clearly, netting three goals after the break despite holding less than 34% possession in the second half.

Xabi Alonso Already Has Chelsea Defense Solution, But Needs to be Bold… When Will Injured Midfielders Return to the Matchday Squad? Alonso has declined to lean on injuries as an excuse, yet physical setbacks have undoubtedly hampered the start of the campaign.

The absence of Moisés Caicedo has left a notable void through the center of the pitch, highlighting how easily opponents are cutting through central areas. The Ecuadorian midfielder has spent just 14 minutes on the pitch due to a calf injury sustained during pre-season preparations.