{"id":2703,"date":"2026-08-30T19:07:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T19:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=2703"},"modified":"2026-08-30T19:07:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T19:07:01","slug":"chelsea-stat-lowest-its-been-for-22-years-but-xabi-alonso-ends-enzo-marescas-brighton-hoodoo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=2703","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea stat lowest it’s been for 22 years but Xabi Alonso ends Enzo Maresca’s Brighton hoodoo"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Chelsea secured a third successive win under Xabi Alonso on Sunday as the Spaniard\u2019s era continues to produce results at this early stage. But their passing is the worst it\u2019s been for years.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Goals from Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer saw Chelsea<\/a> secure all three points, and six points from two games. In all competitions, Alonso<\/a> now has three wins from three at Chelsea.<\/p>\n

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Plenty of candidates, but who was your Man of the Match against Brighton?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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But it is a completely different style of football that Chelsea fans are used to, or might have expected. In pre-season, Alonso\u2019s side dominated possession, but against Brighton, Chelsea played on the counter.<\/p>\n

They finished the game with a mind-boggling 26% possession. Back in 2012, Chelsea boasted 28% of the ball across both legs against Barcelona, just to highlight how little of the ball Chelsea had on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Chelsea\u2019s passing was the worst it\u2019s been since 2004 <\/h2>\n

Incredibly, Chelsea only completed 67.0% of their passes on Sunday. A lot of that was due to the Blues going long and trying to force a counterattack, and Emi Martinez<\/a> opting to go long instead of short.<\/p>\n

Remarkably, it was Chelsea\u2019s worst display of passing in a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge<\/a> \u2013 for whatever reason, or the tactics \u2013 since a 1-0 win over Charlton in 03-04. Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink scored. <\/p>\n

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Some might say that Chelsea need to pass the ball better, and of course, every side can improve. But this was a clear ploy from Alonso: get the ball forward as quickly as possible and defend without the ball.<\/p>\n

Clearly, it worked. Chelsea sat back, invited the pressure, and pounced with their impeccable front three. Only 26% of possession was required for Chelsea to score four goals and beat a top side like Brighton.<\/p>\n

Alonso ends dismal four-game streak against Brighton<\/h2>\n

Despite constantly signing Brighton\u2019s best players \u2013 Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro just to name two \u2013 Chelsea have really struggled against Brighton in recent seasons. That ended in London on Sunday.<\/p>\n

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What did you make of Emi Martinez\u2019s debut? Is he the missing piece for Chelsea to win the league?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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The previous four matches against Brighton have ended in defeat. That includes Liam Rosenior\u2019s final game in charge at The Amex last season, which saw a half-hearted Chelsea lose 3-0 to the Seagulls.<\/p>\n

It includes a 3-1 home defeat back in September 2025 under Enzo Maresca and a 3-0 battering in February 2025, as well as a 2-1 FA Cup loss a week before that. Alonso is improving this Chelsea side.<\/p>\n

Maresca might have beaten Brighton in his first of four games against the Seagulls, but he lost the next three. Alonso has ended that run of games, masterminding a brilliant win as Chelsea drive on.<\/p>\n

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