In Xabi Alonso's six competitive games for Chelsea so far, they have conceded 12 goals. Thankfully, they have a strong attack and have scored 18 goals. However, the Blues have come unstuck in their last two Premier League games, losing to Arsenal before only drawing with Hull City.
Key defensive stats for Chelsea so far this season:
Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
Goals against | 12 |
xG against | 6.58 |
Goals against per game | 2.00 |
Conceded 2+ goals | 5 of 6 matches |
These stats are appalling for a side whose recent history is of one of the top clubs in the Premier League. The xG against shows just how many opportunities they are giving to their opponents.
As Arsenal showed last season, successful title-winning sides are built on a strong defence. The Gunners conceded just 27 goals in 38 Premier League games as they won the division.
Mikel Arteta's side had a regular back four of Jurrien Timber, Gabriel, William Saliba, and Riccardo Calafiori. However, Alonso does not know his best back line. He favours a back three, but has already changed his starting system to a back four on two occasions this campaign. The only clean sheet Alonso's side has managed this campaign came when playing with a back four. However, that was against Luton Town of League One in the EFL Cup.
Alonso started the campaign against Fulham with a back three of Josh Acheampong, Maxence Lacroix, and Levi Colwill. Fofana has since come in for Acheampong. Alonso has also rotated Colwill and Acheampong. Lacroix, who was signed for £52 million from Crystal Palace over the summer, was even dropped to the bench against Hull City. However, he did come on for Fofana late on.
Even the wing-backs, or on occasion full-backs, have been inconsistent this season. Alonso has mostly used Jorell Hato and Pedro Neto, but Malo Gusto and Reece James have also been used as wide defenders.
Chelsea are on the back of a very poor campaign, where they finished 10th in the Premier League and conceded 52 goals in the division. It is not a new problem for Chelsea to have an inconsistent back line. Last season, after just nine games, the Blues had already used seven different centre-back partnerships.
The Blues started last season with Enzo Maresca in charge, before he left with a view to replacing Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Liam Rosenior had a disastrous spell in charge, sandwiched between two interim stints for Callum McFarlane.
Alonso will be hoping to be given time at Chelsea, especially as he was given just seven months in his last job at Real Madrid. However, the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge is quick to pull the trigger, no matter the pedigree of the manager in the dugout.
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