Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Chelsea fans knew Friday’s game was going to be a difficult task. But not many could have guessed Xabi Alonso’s side would suffer a 3-0 hammering – with Jordan Henderson the centre of attention.
The Chelsea Chronicle predicted Alonso could hand four of his Chelsea players a full Premier League debut for the club on Friday night. Pep Chavarria, Henderson, Valentin Barco and Danny Welbeck started.
But there is making the odd tweak or change, and there is changing too much in one go. Alonso might have been forced into doing so due to injury, but it hindered the Blues at the G-Tech on Friday night.
READ MORE:Chelsea’s player ratings as Morgan Rogers struggles during 3-0 hammering
Brentford fans tease Jordan Henderson during 3-0 win
Not only was it Henderson’s Chelsea debut, but the veteran midfielder was thrown in at the deep end by Alonso. The England midfielder started for Chelsea at the stadium he left in the summer on a free transfer.
Didn't even buy a striker who rotates with Pedro in the summer window. Welbeck is a good striker, he is strong, but his age makes him a bit unable to run.
The move to release Henderson a year before his Brentford contract expired angered Bees fans, with many feeling Henderson had stabbed the club in the back. Well, they got their own back on Friday night.
BBC Sport’s live coverage of the game reported this: “The Brentford fans are relishing every second of taunting Jordan Henderson: ‘Jordan, what’s the score? Jordan, Jordan, what’s the score?’ they sing.”
After such a positive week, defeat is a hammer blow for Alonso
The positivity of finally waving goodbye to Todd Boehly and Mark Walter gave Chelsea fans optimism going into Friday’s match, despite the difficulty of facing a side like Brentford, who remain unbeaten.
Chelsea needed a result to build on the momentum that the change in ownership had provided, but with the Blues not playing again for three weeks, the loss leaves Chelsea reevaluating their pre-season hopes.
Are Chelsea really good enough to contend for the title? On this showing, the inability to beat Hull and the loss against Arsenal suggests they are still some way off. Now, the pressure will increase on Alonso.