Chelsea legend John Terry has launched a scathing attack on the club’s zonal marking system after their chastening 3-0 Premier League defeat at the hands of Brentford on Friday night. The former captain, speaking on his YouTube channel on Sunday evening, slammed the disorganisation at the back which allowed the Bees to take the lead from a corner.
The decisive moment came in the 61st minute with Jannik Schuster winning a header at the back post against Valentin Barco and flicking the ball across for Jaidon Anthony to head home. And speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janelt admitted the hosts had aimed for that weak far-post area intentionally after the break. The Blues have now conceded five set-piece goals in five league games, the most of any side in the Premier League.
Terry, who famously captained Chelsea to five Premier League titles, was clear in his diagnosis of the problem when he said:
“We have been disappointing from corners, set plays, and throw-ins.
“I like man for man, I don’t like this zonal marking. Our smallest men are picking up their biggest players. There’s no responsibility in players.
“I prefer our biggest and best headers competing at the back post, winning those headers and dominating the penalty box. It’s a big thing for us. This is something we need to get better at.”
The criticism is certainly felt by Austin MacPhee, the dead-ball specialist who was prized from Aston Villa this summer to solve this very problem. Terry insisted tactical sophistication is worthless without personnel with real guts. As he put it:
“You can have the best set piece coach in the world but you have to have players who are willing to go and head the ball, put your head in places where people are scared to put their feet, and be really dominant.”
How Brentford used possession loss to expose Chelsea
Chelsea’s defeat at the Brentford Community Stadium revealed a serious chasm between territorial domination and real penetration. The Blues held 59% of the possession and attempted 495 passes, but lost the battle of expected goals 2.65 to 0.82.
Brentford created four big chances to Chelsea’s one and converted three of them, while they had six shots on target to the visitors’ two. Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 offered volume but no incision – just two of 28 Chelsea crosses found a teammate, a dismal 7% return that neutered 12 corners.
The Blues, tenth in the rankings and without a league win in their last three games, will host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Oct. 10.