The main talking points from Chelsea's 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Friday evening in a deeply disappointing night for Xabi Alonso and the Blues
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso on the touchline during Chelsea's defeat to Brentford(Image: Glyn Kirk/AFP)
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Make no mistake about it, Friday was Xabi Alonso's most disappointing day in his short time as Chelsea manager.
Brentford ripped the Blues apart in the second-half at the Gtech Community Stadium. Three goals in the second period from the Bees secured a much-deserved victory for the west Londoners. Chelsea were left licking their wounds.
Everything that we've seen go wrong with the Blues went wrong in a chastening second 45 minutes. Defensive mishaps, positional discipline, sloppiness in possession, inability to defend set pieces, and so on.
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The situation at Chelsea is no quick fix. And that has been Alonso's message since day one.
Chelsea insiders felt the summer transfer window was one of great success in what sources describe as 'phase one' of Alonso's rebuild. Predictably, however, some of last season's concerns are still prevalent at Stamford Bridge.
The defence has become even more of a concern. Chelsea have now conceded 12 goals in the Premier League this term - more than any other side in the division. The Blues currently have a -2 goal difference despite having perhaps the most-feared attacking trio in the English top-flight right now.
Jaidon Anthony's opener on Friday night came from a corner and, as a result, was the fifth goal Chelsea have conceded from a set play thus far this season. Five of their 12 goals shipped have come from a set-piece scenario.
Jaidon Anthony heads Brentford ahead against Chelsea
Jaidon Anthony found himself unmarked for Brentford's first goal(Image: Rob Newell - CameraSport)
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Austin MacPhee, brought to the club to try and improve the Blues from dead ball situations both in defence and attack, was an animated figure at the Gtech on Friday. The Scottish coach was on his feet seemingly just as much as Alonso but the message he was trying to get across was not received.
Levi Colwill hit the nail on the head and pulled no punches with his post-match comments. Speaking to Sky Sports, the Chelsea defender said: "We have not been good enough, at times we have been bullied and we need to improve at that.
"But we trust in our set-piece coach, we are still adjusting to new things, but we do need to improve as a team."
Alonso's wish temporarily granted in bizarre match
It was a really bizarre match. Many came into this game expecting a thriller. Friday night, under the lights, two teams that are often involved in entertaining matches.
Yet the first-half was dire. Not much happened at all. In a weird way, though, Alonso would have been pleased with that. Or at least satisfied.
The Chelsea manager has been calling for weeks now for his side to have more control in matches. After the 2-2 draw with Hull City last weekend, Alonso said: "It's all maybe entertaining, but I hope that one day you say it was a boring game and we win and we don't give these entertaining moments, but for sure it kind of repeats some patterns that we are making."
Chelsea were not winning at the half-time break, granted, but the Blues certainly had control. The visitors had a clear route to go and win the game in the second-half, they just needed to show a little more sharpness and care in attacking positions. It was there for them.
Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers
Chelsea's attackers struggled in the defeat to Brentford(Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
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As Brentford grew, though, Chelsea collapsed. And, according to Alonso, that was down to a lack of 'competitive mentality'.
He said: "I would say that we dropped our consistency, our competitive mentality needed in the second-half. We know that the small details can be decisive. We don't have to give advantage in these kind of games. What they do with little, they get a lot, and credit to them.
"But it's about 95 minutes and we have not been able to keep that level throughout these few games in the start of the season and it's something that we'll have to do better."
Martinez's kicking a concern
It has not been the perfect start for Emiliano Martinez at Chelsea. In fairness to the Blues goalkeeper, he has faced far too many shots; the defence and midfield are doing him no favours.
Emiliano Martinez
Emiliano Martinez during Chelsea's heavy defeat to Brentford(Image: Gaspafotos/MB Media)
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One area for concern is the Argentina international's kicking. It was an issue at the Gtech, not Chelsea's biggest of the night but one nonetheless.
There were a couple of instances in the second-half where Martinez needlessly gifted the ball back to Brentford, both at times where a spell of possession would have been ideal for Chelsea.
One of those times, Pep Chavarria did Martinez no favours but instead of trying to pick a pass, the goalkeeper went long. It was seemingly aimed in the direction of Danny Welbeck, but it ended up nowhere near him and Alonso lost his cool.
The Spaniard, usually so calm and collected, swiftly turned around towards his coaching staff and made an arm gesture in frustration while shouting to his coaches.
Three weeks to dwell
It might be hard to accept for some supporters but the first international break appears to have come at the perfect time for Alonso and Chelsea.
After a good, yet flawed, first few matches, recent games have seen the cracks start to reappear. The Blues now have more three weeks until they next kick a ball.
Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco
Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco following Chelsea's 3-0 defeat to Brentford(Image: Ryan Pierse)
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Hopefully the likes of Joao Pedro, Reece James, Marco Palestra and Moises Caicedo will be back by then - all four of them were enormous misses on Friday night, and the latter two have since the beginning of the campaign.
Once the international break concludes, Chelsea will need all four back fit and firing because there is a daunting schedule on the horizon: Bournemouth (H), Everton (A), Tottenham (H), Liverpool A, Carabao Cup), Manchester United (H) and Sunderland (A).
You could argue the two after that chunk of games are tough, too, with Leeds United, who have started the season excellently, coming to Stamford Bridge before a trip to the City Ground, which seems to always be tough, to take on Nottingham Forest.
The first block of the season is now over and the feel-good factor has slowly slipped away, from the fan base at the very least. Twenty-one days and counting.