Premier League football returns to our lives this weekend with Chelsea welcoming Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge for their sixth fixture of the season
Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer has been undergoing rehabilitation in the Caribbean(Image: Harvey Murphy/News Images/NurPhoto)
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As soon as the full-time whistle was blown to end an awful evening for Chelsea at Brentford, Xabi Alonso would have already been thinking about everything - and there is a lot - that needs improving within his squad.
It might have felt so at the time, but that Friday evening was not the end of the world for the Blues. Disappointing, yes, but in many ways, it is what is expected this early into a new manager's tenure.
The reality is that we are seven matches - in all competitions - into Alonso's Stamford Bridge reign. There are cracks in several areas in the team, in the squad, and while they were glossed over by the brilliance of that front three in the first few games, those cracks have suddenly become more glaring.
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While having three weeks to reflect on the gut-wrenching 3-0 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium is extremely frustrating for Alonso, the players and the supporters, the three-week international break might have come at the perfect time for Chelsea. We're now into the final few days of the break and Alonso will be hoping a few things happen between now and Saturday afternoon's clash with Bournemouth to make it a dream week.
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Unfortunately, football isn't as straightforward as Alonso being able to solve Chelsea's defensive problems in the space of three weeks. However, the Blues manager will have been thankful for some extra time on the training ground, albeit without all of his first-team stars, over the last few weeks.
Leading up to the Brentford defeat, Chelsea's defence and midfield were strongly criticised. At the Gtech, it was the worst we've seen it to date this season. Especially in the second-half.
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso on the touchline during Chelsea's defeat to Brentford(Image: Glyn Kirk/AFP)
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In fact, the first-half, while Chelsea offered very little in an attacking sense, the visitors were solid. Alonso had been calling for games involving his sides to become a little bit more 'boring', only if the Blues were to win, and less chaotic. The first-half against the Bees was just that.
In the second period, however, Chelsea reverted back to their old ways. It is worth noting that Brentford drastically improved, but it felt more of the Blues being bad, rather than the Bees being particularly good.
While a lot of Alonso's crucial players were off on international duty, the Spaniard has at least been able to work with the likes of Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana. The duo have been important figures in Chelsea's back three at the start of the season but neither have impressed on a consistent basis this term.
Colwill's situation is a curious one because he is undoubtedly one of the club's strongest defenders when he is at the top of his game. However, the 23-year-old has looked a shadow of that version in the early weeks of the campaign.
Levi Colwill
Levi Colwill has struggled for Chelsea so far this season(Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
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Could that be put down to last summer's anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury? Perhaps. It kept him out for the majority of last season so it certainly will have played its part, but it looks to be more down to the role he is playing.
Colwill has been used predominantly as the left-sided centre-back in the defensive trio. To most of the supporters watching, it looks as if the Englishman's skillset makes him more naturally suited to the middle defender, a role occupied by summer signing Maxence Lacroix.
It will be interesting to see whether Alonso tweaks his defence for the visit of Bournemouth at the weekend.
A few injury boosts
It will be interesting to see how open Alonso is with his injury updates (or lack thereof) when he sits down to speak to the press later in the week. While the press conference is set to be dominated by the goings on at Manchester City, injury news will also be extremely high up on the agenda.
Not least Cole Palmer. The 23-year-old withdrew from the England squad over the international break due to a muscular injury. football.london understands that Palmer has been using this time to undergo rehabilitation in the Caribbean with a specialist fitness coach.
Joao Pedro also pulled out of his country's matches due to a knee injury. The Brazil international sustained the issue while preparing for Chelsea's defeat to Brentford, which he subsequently missed, prior to the break.
Joao Pedro
Joao Pedro missed the defeat at Brentford prior to the international break due to a knee injury(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA)
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Reece James was not available for selection with the England international suffering a hamstring injury last month. We await to hear more on James and whether he will be fit enough to take on Bournemouth on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will be hoping to have Moises Caicedo fit for the visit of the Cherries. The Ecuadorian has spent less than 14 minutes on the pitch this season due to a persistent calf injury, but is nearing a return to action. Whether Bournemouth comes too soon for Caicedo remains to be seen.
Marco Palestra is expected to return to the first-team squad as he looks to make his Premier League debut for Chelsea. After such an impressive pre-season, the Italian defender has been on the sidelines for the first seven games of the campaign due to a problem with his quadriceps.
Palestra, though, has been involved in first-team training over the past few weeks.
Alonso will be hoping to have as many of the above back and available for selection. We should find out more later in the week.
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