Levi Colwill has admitted Chelsea have been “bullied” in the box after their defensive problems continued during Friday night’s 3-0 defeat against Brentford.
The Blues conceded all three goals after half-time at the Gtech Community Stadium, with Jaidon Anthony opening the scoring from a set-piece before Igor Thiago and Fábio Carvalho completed the victory.
Chelsea have now conceded 12 goals across their opening five Premier League matches under Xabi Alonso.
Colwill, who captained the side at Brentford, was blunt in his assessment afterwards.
Levi Colwill admits Chelsea have been bullied
Speaking to Sky Sports after the defeat, Colwill acknowledged that Chelsea’s defending from set-pieces has fallen below the required standard.
“At times we have been bullied in the box,” Colwill said.
He added that Chelsea still trust set-piece coach Austin MacPhee and are adjusting to new ideas, but admitted the team must improve.
The comments are particularly significant after Brentford’s opening goal came from exactly the kind of dead-ball situation Chelsea had spent the build-up preparing for.
Alonso had already highlighted Brentford’s strength from set-pieces, while Chelsea’s own work under Austin MacPhee faced a major examination at the Gtech Community Stadium.
That test ultimately exposed another weakness.
Chelsea cannot rely on front three, says Colwill
Colwill also believes responsibility for Chelsea’s struggles extends beyond the defence.
“We can’t rely on our front three to pull us out of danger,” he said.
The defender stressed that Chelsea’s midfield and back line must contribute more if Alonso’s side are to become consistent.
That was evident against Brentford.
Chelsea failed to score despite starting Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Danny Welbeck, but their lack of attacking threat did not excuse the defensive collapse which followed Anthony’s opener.
The 3-0 defeat against Brentford became increasingly damaging as Chelsea pushed forward searching for an equaliser.
Colwill admitted the Blues overexposed themselves during that period and played passes they should not have attempted.
Brentford punished those mistakes ruthlessly on the counter-attack.
Set-piece problem becoming major Chelsea concern
Chelsea’s problems from dead-ball situations are no longer isolated incidents.
Colwill confirmed after the match that the Blues have already conceded five goals from set-pieces this season.
“Not been good enough,” he said when asked about that record.
Chelsea brought MacPhee into Alonso’s coaching staff during the summer specifically to provide specialist expertise in this area.
There have been positive signs offensively, but defending set-pieces remains a major issue.
The manner of Brentford’s first goal therefore increases the pressure on Chelsea to find solutions during the international break.
Colwill demands Chelsea improvement
Despite the scoreline, Colwill rejected the suggestion that Chelsea’s mentality collapsed after falling behind.
He insisted the players continued trying to find an equaliser, only for their increasingly aggressive approach to create more space for Brentford to exploit.
However, the defender accepted there remains considerable room for improvement.
Chelsea have now failed to win three consecutive Premier League matches and head into the international break following their heaviest defeat of the season.
Alonso has already admitted Chelsea lost discipline and made their own mistakes against Brentford.
Colwill’s assessment goes further.
For one of Chelsea’s senior defenders, the problem is not simply tactical.
The Blues must become more aggressive, more reliable in the box and less dependent on their attacking players to rescue them.
Xabi Alonso admits Chelsea lost discipline in Brentford defeat
Xabi Alonso admits Chelsea lost discipline in Brentford defeat
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