Brentford absolutely stomped Chelsea 3-0 on Friday, exposing a brutal truth: without star striker Joao Pedro, the goal machine broke, and new manager Xabi Alonso’s problems are piling up fast. It wasn’t just the defensive collapse that doomed them yet again; it was a total breakdown at both ends of the pitch that left everyone wondering what in the world is going on with this squad.
Alonso’s Defensive Nightmare Is Unstoppable
Let’s be real, Chelsea’s problem was supposed to be in defense, and it’s still glaringly obvious. This team has conceded 12 goals already this season, which is more than any other side in the Premier League, even with having played one extra game. And get this: Alonso is only the sixth manager *ever* to concede two or more goals in each of his first five Premier League matches in charge. That’s not just bad, that’s historically bad! We’re talking about a club that has let in a staggering 23 goals from set-pieces since the start of last season, another league-high. Brentford’s first goal, a simple header from a corner by Jaidon Anthony in the 61st minute, pushed this season’s set-piece total to five. Stand-in captain Levi Colwill didn’t mince words, telling Sky Sports it was “not good enough” and that the team has been “bullied in the box.” You can’t argue with that. This club even replaced set-piece specialist Bernardo Cueva with Austin MacPhee this summer to fix this exact issue, and it clearly hasn’t worked yet.
Where Did The Goals Go? Pedro’s Absence Is Crushing
As if the defense wasn’t enough, scoring goals has become a massive issue with Joao Pedro sidelined by a knee injury. The Brazilian striker came into this weekend with the most goal involvements in the Premier League, bagging three goals and three assists in just four appearances. That’s a huge chunk of offense missing! He links so well with Cole Palmer and the club’s record £117m signing, Morgan Rogers, and he creates chances for himself. Without him, the previously free-scoring attack looks totally lost. Danny Welbeck, who replaced Pedro, couldn’t make an impact, managing only 17 touches before getting subbed off in the 71st minute. Rogers, who’s been a beast since arriving from Aston Villa, arguably had his quietest performance against Brentford. It’s clear that while the defense falls apart, the attack can’t bail them out anymore.
The extended international break couldn’t come at a better time for this Chelsea squad. They’ve got three weeks to stew on this brutal 3-0 defeat. Alonso has some serious work to do on that tactical coherence and, more urgently, figuring out how to stop the bleeding on defense. Let’s see if they can use this break to figure things out, because this early season trend is not looking good.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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