Chelsea suffered a 3-0 defeat to Brentford, marking their 11th loss of the calendar year and extending their streak of games without a clean sheet to 22.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso expressed concern over his team's competitive mentality following a 3-0 defeat to Brentford. The loss marks Chelsea's 11th defeat of the calendar year and extends their run of Premier League games without a clean sheet to 22. The team has now conceded at least two goals in five consecutive league matches.

Persistent Set-Piece Vulnerabilities

Chelsea continues to struggle with set-pieces, conceding four such goals in their last five Premier League matches. This brings their total to 23 set-piece goals conceded since the start of last season, the joint-worst record in the league. Brentford player Vitaly Janelt noted that the team specifically targeted the back post at half-time, identifying a gap that led to Jaidon Anthony's opening goal.

Defensive and Tactical Challenges

Beyond set-pieces, Chelsea faces difficulties in defensive duels, build-up play, and maintaining control during matches. The team currently allows an average of 10 shots in their own penalty area per game, ranking among the top three in the division for this metric. Manager Xabi Alonso noted that the team loses its shape and control once they fall behind, a recurring issue that has prevented them from holding leads in their last three league games.

Team Transition Under Alonso

The Brentford match featured seven summer signings in Chelsea's starting lineup, reflecting the ongoing transition under Xabi Alonso, the club's fourth manager in nine months. Former captain Gary Cahill suggested that Alonso will need the coming weeks on the training ground to implement his methods. Players Levi Colwill and Alonso both acknowledged the need for significant improvement across multiple areas of the game during the upcoming international break.