{"id":2770,"date":"2026-08-31T16:13:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T16:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=2770"},"modified":"2026-08-31T16:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T16:13:10","slug":"why-chelseas-26-ball-possession-in-brighton-victory-is-actually-a-good-sign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=2770","title":{"rendered":"Why Chelsea’s 26% ball possession in Brighton victory is actually a good sign"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Chelsea\u2019s extremely low ball possession figure from their win over Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend has become a bit of a talking point.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chelsea saw just 26% of the ball<\/a> on Sunday, which comes after only having 38% against Fulham the previous league game.<\/p>\n

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Understandably, some supporters are worried, and going forward, Chelsea<\/a> will need to improve in midfield a bit. That lack of control is arguably one reason why the defence is being penetrated so easily at the moment.<\/p>\n

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What have you made of Chelsea\u2019s style of play under Xabi Alonso? \u26bd\ufe0f<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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On the flip side, Chelsea are actually benefitting from sitting back and launching counter-attacks. Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers are getting the kind of space that they would probably not have been afforded if the team had all of the ball and were attacking a low block for 90 minutes.<\/p>\n

That is what often happened under Enzo Maresca<\/a>. Chelsea dominated but could not break their opponents down. In the end, it was useless possession.<\/p>\n

All in all, the fact that Chelsea are winning games despite seeing so little of the ball can actually be viewed as a positive.<\/p>\n

Once they improve defensively, however that occurs, it will not matter how much possession they have. If Xabi Alonso\u2019s<\/a> side remain a threat on the counter-attack, which seems inevitable with their attack, and learn how to become sturdier, they are going to be unbeatable in most games. And that would make them title challengers.<\/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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It remains to be seen how much of a difference a new midfielder would make to this Chelsea side defensively, but it is clear they need to sign one, especially with Enzo Fernandez edging closer to the exit door.<\/p>\n

Right now, Lamine Camara is the likeliest candidate<\/a> to come in, with it already being claimed that Chelsea have a deal in principle with AS Monaco to sign the 22-year-old.<\/p>\n

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