Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
The biggest theme from Chelsea’s underwhelming start to the 2026/27 season under new manager Xabi Alonso has been the stark contrast between their attack and defence.
The West London club have scored the third-most goals in the Premier League (10), behind only Manchester City and Brighton. Almost all of those goals have been scored or assisted by the exciting front three of Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer.
However, the Blues have conceded more goals than all three promoted sides, shipping 12 goals in their opening five games. The additions of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and centre-back Maxence Lacroix appear to have made little difference to Chelsea’s defensive problems, with the backline arguably looking even weaker.
One theory behind Chelsea’s struggles is the absence of Moises Caicedo, who has played just 14 minutes of league football due to a calf injury. The ball-winning midfielder is one of the best in the world in his position, and Alonso has no like-for-like replacement for him in the squad.
The numbers highlight just how much Chelsea are missing Caicedo in midfield. Neither Reece James nor Romeo Lavia can match his defensive output.
Chelsea’s defensive struggles without Moises Caicedo explained
The statistics from Chelsea’s top midfielders paint a clear picture of the team’s defensive problems. Captain Reece James, who has filled in for Moises Caicedo in midfield, has won a tackle roughly once every other Premier League game. He has also failed to make a single interception in 292 minutes.
Romeo Lavia’s tackle and interception numbers are considerably stronger, but he has not blocked a single shot. That is particularly concerning given Emi Martinez has made the third-most saves (18) of any Premier League goalkeeper despite missing the opening game.
Player Tackles per 90 Interceptions per 90 Shots blocked per 90 Fouls per 90
Reece James (2026/27) 0.6 0.0 0.6 0.9
Romeo Lavia (2026/27) 2.1 2.1 0 0.7
Moises Caicedo (2025/26) 2.8 1.9 0.5 1.7
Caicedo’s statistics stand out across the board. Not only does he win more tackles than either of his teammates, but he also commits twice as many fouls. While the latter could be viewed as a negative, it also highlights a key difference in the midfield.
Chelsea’s midfield has been criticised for looking lethargic, but there is never any doubt about Caicedo’s intensity and willingness to win the ball back. His aggression can occasionally get him into trouble with referees, but it also gives the defence a level of protection that appears to be missing in his absence.
The unfortunate reality for Alonso is that he does not have anyone similar to Caicedo to choose from. Much has been made of Chelsea’s failure to sign Lamine Camara from Monaco on transfer deadline day, but the decision to loan out Dario Essugo should also be questioned.
Thankfully, Caicedo is expected to return to the starting lineup for the Bournemouth game after the international break. The Ecuadorian star will need to immediately rediscover his energetic best against summer transfer target Alex Scott to protect the Blues’ leaky defence.