Xabi Alonso joins Mick McCarthy in worrying managers club after Chelsea’s defeat to Brentford

It was the first game of the season Chelsea did not score, with Joao Pedro being missed badly as Morgan Rogers struggled whenever he was on the ball.

Chelsea’s player ratings after that disastrous performance… do you agree with us?

Who deserves higher and who deserves even lower? 😳

Xabi Alonso joins unwanted manager’s club after 3-0 defeat to Brentford

In the end though, it was defensive frailties which were the topic of conversation again, with the Blues now having conceded 12 goals in their first five league games.

As well as this, Alonso has seen his side concede two or more goals in his first five games of the season, becoming only the fifth manager to achieve this unwanted feat.

The only other managers this has happened to are Mick McCarthy, Sammy Lee, Terry Connor, Slavisa Jokanovic and Scott Parker, all doing so with relegation-threatened sides.

Conceding goals from set-pieces remains a massive issue for Chelsea, with Brentford’s first goal coming from a corner. Six of their goals have been conceded from these scenarios.

Austin McPhee is going to be one of the busiest members of staff at Cobham throughout the international break as he looks to come up with the solutions in this area.

Only Maxence Lacroix and Josh Acheampong from the club’s senior defenders will be off representing their country during the break, allowing Alonso and his coaches plenty of time to work on what has proven to be a massive weakness in their opening five games.

The test to see what they have worked on will come in three weeks’ time, with the Blues hosting Bournemouth in their first game after the international break.

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