Xabi Alonso expressed disappointment in Chelsea’s current inconsistency, stating they aren’t competitive enough against Premier League teams for the full 90 minutes after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Brentford.
After a promising start with victories over Fulham and Brighton, the Blues have now gone three league matches without a win.
They approached the match at Gtech Community Stadium following a 2-1 loss to Arsenal and a 2-2 draw with Hull City, and they were without Joao Pedro, the Premier League Player of the Month for August, due to a knee injury.
In the second half, Chelsea’s lack of attacking prowess coupled with defensive mistakes allowed Brentford to secure a convincing victory, with goals from Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago, and Fabio Carvalho.
With 12 goals conceded, Chelsea holds the record for the most conceded in the Premier League this season, and they have the highest expected goals against at 8.82 xGA.
Alonso told Sky Sports, “I’m disappointed with the second half and the result. This level is insufficient for competing in the Premier League.”
“We couldn’t sustain our performance for the full 90 minutes, which led to our punishment today.”
“Currently, our inconsistency prevents us from competing throughout the match—playing well for 45 minutes isn’t enough. You must maintain that performance level, as each detail matters and every action can be crucial.”
@BrentfordFC are up to third and their unbeaten start to the Premier League season continues! pic.twitter.com/qJDlwgPt7c
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 18, 2026
Alonso has now become the sixth manager in Premier League history to see his team concede multiple goals in each of their first five matches, joining the ranks of Mick McCarthy, Sammy Lee, Terry Connor, Slavisa Jokanovic, and Scott Parker.
When asked how Chelsea could improve their shaky defense, he noted, “It’s about everything—mentality, football, and tactical elements that need enhancement. We certainly can do better.”
He also did not use Joao Pedro’s absence as an excuse for Chelsea’s meager two shots on target and 0.85 expected goals, contrasting with Brentford’s six shots on goal and 2.65 xG.
“We shouldn’t seek excuses. We need to hold ourselves accountable and strive to improve because there’s plenty of season left,” he remarked.
“We need to assess several aspects. We found ourselves in good positions but were not precise enough with our final actions, leading to a lack of goals.”
A bright spot for Chelsea was the late appearance of Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, who made history as the first player born in 2010 to play in the Premier League and the youngest player to represent Chelsea in the league.
Chelsea will have over three weeks to reflect on their loss during the international break, with Bournemouth as their next challenge on October 10.
Fan Take: This news highlights a troubling trend for Chelsea, as inconsistency in performance raises questions about their ability to compete at a high level. For soccer fans, this could signify a potential shift in Premier League dynamics, making it crucial for clubs to maintain competitive stability if they hope to succeed in the demanding environment of top-flight football.
Source: www.soccernews.com
