Brentford 3-0 Chelsea: Disgraceful outing shows zero improvement in 3 months

Chelsea has taken a beating for the first time this season. What is not for the first time, however, is the abysmal defensive performance. You see, the Blues are now double digits in goals conceded, and have actually now conceded more per game than they have scored. This is extraordinary. Extraordinarily horrendous. 

Xabi Alonso took charge of Chelsea in July, and since then, the Blues have shown zero improvements in their defending. This has nothing to do with personnel either, as this team is his own making.

Defending is structure, not personnel

Chelsea spent over €145 million on defensive signings, including bringing in long sought-after Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Robert Sanchez was tossed to the side, loaned to Como for the 2026/27 football season. Benoit Badiashile was also pushed aside, going on loan to SSC Napoli. 

All these, in a bid to get a better defense. Of course, we all know that defending is a function of the manager, not necessarily the individual players. This point is even more obvious considering that Maxence Lacroix, a new centreback signing, has played well so far. The defensive frailties aren’t due to rubbish personnel, as much as Chelsea fans would prefer to think it is. 

In the first half against Brentford, Lacroix won all his defensive duels. By fulltime, he had only lost two out of eight he contested. This is not a personnel issue, as the Blues have been an eyesore to watch out of possession since Gameweek 1.

Breaking down the defensive numbers

Numbers have a way of putting things in their right perspective, and Chelsea’s defensive numbers will make your skin crawl. 

12 goals: Chelsea has conceded 12 goals in the Premier League. Alonso’s men achieved this in just five games, making it 2.4 goals allowed per game. The Blues are yet to keep a clean sheet this season, and have conceded two goals or more in every league game so far. 

3.6: Chelsea has allowed 3.6 big chances per game. As bad as this is, it’s made worse by the fact that some very beatable teams were among the five. The Blues should be able to hold their own against Fulham (now in 18th), Hull (now in 4th), and Brighton (now in 5th). Brentford has always been a difficult game for the west London side, but 3-0 in this manner is beyond unacceptable. 

4.5: Martinez is making 4.5 saves per game, but is still conceding 2.5 goals every time he kits up for the men in blue. This is an indication that the Blues aren’t just conceding unlucky goals. Opponents are pressing them and peppering their goal.

What’s the way forward?

Alonso has to see this as the priority that it is. He is still new, but it’s clear that the Blues’ defending has not improved since he came in. Time is not going to solve the defense, so Alonso has to. 

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Many have mentioned the fact that he started this way at his other clubs. Even if that was true, this club is not like his other clubs. That he struggled at other clubs and turned it around, doesn’t mean it’d happen here. 

We have to see improvements, no matter how small, to believe that he can actually turn it around. The January window is far away, and even if it was close, there’s nothing to suggest more signings will make the away side any more solid out of possession. This simply cannot continue, otherwise Alonso’s head will soon be on the chopping block.