Xabi Alonso has called his own Chelsea players “too soft” after they let another lead slip in the Premier League, according to the latest news from Stamford Bridge. The Spaniard is now under pressure to fix a defence that keeps breaking down at crucial moments.
A defensive crisis that predates Xabi Alonso
Chelsea’s league clash ended in a 2-2 draw against Hull City even though the Blues’ were leading early. In 20 straight league games, they have failed to keep a clean sheet. As reported by The Telegraph, this is the first time in 65 years that Chelsea have gone this long without shutting out an opponent. That run actually stretches back to January, long before Alonso’s arrival this summer.
The Blues have needed three or more goals just to win matches this season, a pattern that cannot continue. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has already conceded nine goals in four games since his move from Aston Villa. New arrival Maxence Lacroix, meanwhile, was on the bench for the visit of Hull.
Alonso did not hide from the problem after the game. “We need to be aware that from any situation, any team in the Premier League can hurt you,” he said. “If you are soft or if you are not prepared, you will get punished, and we have been punished that way.” His comments point to a mental issue as much as a tactical one. He admitted the same patterns have now shown up in all four league games this season.
Chelsea’s results in all competitions this season so far, as per FOTMOB:
Competition Scored Conceded Vs
Premier League 3 2 Fulham (A)
Premier League 4 3 Brighton (H)
Premier League 1 2 Arsenal (A)
Premier League 2 2 Hull City
EFL Cup 2 0 Luton Town (H)
EFL Cup 6 3 Leeds United (H)
Tactical gaps are being exposed every match
Chelsea are producing eye-catching football, but that attacking output is not being matched at the other end. At Stamford Bridge, Hull actually out-shot the home side and posted a higher expected goals total. That is a telling number, given Chelsea controlled long spells of the game. Alonso admitted his team is currently much better at attacking than defending in every phase of play. That includes open play, set pieces, and long balls.
Jorrel Hato’s mistake for Hull’s opener let the ball bounce over him before Mohamed Belloumi scored. This moment captured the sloppiness Alonso wants gone from his side. Hato did not return for the second half, as Alonso brought on Pep Chavarria at left-back instead. Moises Caicedo’s return from injury should add some steel in midfield. But the numbers suggest this is a squad-wide issue rather than something one player can fix alone.
Hull’s resilience deserves credit too
While the headlines focus on Chelsea’s defending, Sergej Jakirovic’s Hull City deserve credit too for a gutsy display. Two goals from Belloumi in six first-half minutes put Hull ahead, before Chelsea drew level through Joao Pedro after the break. Jakirovic told his staff they would get a week off once Hull hit eight points from their opening five games. That target has now been met with games to spare.
“Our target is always to stay in the league and collect as many points as possible,”he said, adding that a total between 38 and 41 points is usually enough for safety. For Xabi Alonso, though, the bigger picture is less comfortable, since fixing Chelsea’s defence now looks like a long-term rebuild rather than a problem solved in a single game.
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