We're not feeling it," said Xabi Alonso after Chelsea's 3-0 loss at Brentford. Yet Chelsea are stuck in a familiar feeling. Another defeat, their 11th of the calendar year - more than they had in 2025, with three months of this year to go.
At least two goals conceded for the fifth straight Premier League game under Alonso. "We dropped our consistency, our competitive mentality needed in the second half," said Alonso. That will concern Chelsea fans the most.
It was way too easy for Brentford to take over that second half. And there's another continuing trend: Chelsea being outbattled in a match. Remember, they were outrun in the vast majority of their Premier League matches last season.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The first thing you think about when you come up against Brentford is set pieces. Long throws, smart corners - the lot. And just like against Hull in their previous game, Chelsea lost control of the match by conceding once again from a set-piece.
This was the fourth goal they have conceded from a set-piece in five Premier League games - taking their overall tally since the start of last season to 23, the joint-worst out of any Premier League side. Once again, the ball was put right on top of Emiliano Martinez towards the back post and neither the goalkeeper nor the outfield players were able to react. And the worst part of it for Chelsea?
Brentford saw it coming a mile off. "We did target [the back post] at half-time," said Vitaly Janelt to Sky Sports. "There was a big gap at the far post.
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