{"id":4478,"date":"2026-09-13T15:11:33","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T15:11:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=4478"},"modified":"2026-09-13T15:11:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T15:11:33","slug":"what-xabi-alonso-told-malo-gusto-moments-before-chelsea-conceded-first-goal-against-hull","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=4478","title":{"rendered":"What Xabi Alonso told Malo Gusto moments before Chelsea conceded first goal against Hull"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-385052\">\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow is-native contentpass\"> <a class=\"fw\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=thechelseachronicle.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add to Preferred Sources<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Xabi Alonso only has short hair, but he must be pulling all of it out. Another two goals conceded against Hull City with Malo Gusto among those to blame on Saturday afternoon.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/thechelseachronicle\/club\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Chelsea<\/a> have now conceded 12 goals in their opening six games in all competitions, shipping three against Leeds and Brighton and two against Arsenal, Fulham and Hull. It\u2019s simply not good enough.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-grvmedia-grv-video GRVMultiVideo\"\/>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"5a9c74ee-9dfb-4c17-80a3-f12c2bcadb5e\" data-story-name=\"Talk Chelsea\" data-comment-id=\"cdd2ca74-f89a-41cd-8de8-8b13e1b175f0\" data-story-slug=\"talk-chelsea\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<p><h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">It\u2019s time to talk about our midfield situation\u2026 who\u2019s getting your vote?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/split-of-four-graphic-819x1024.png\" alt=\"Split image with four players, which includes: Bruno Guimaraes, Lamine Camara, Alex Scott and Manu Kone\" class=\"wp-image-385037\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/split-of-four-graphic-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/split-of-four-graphic-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/split-of-four-graphic-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/split-of-four-graphic-912x1140.png 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/split-of-four-graphic-600x750.png 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/split-of-four-graphic.png 1080w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"Credit: Getty Images\">Credit: Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>If Alonso and Chelsea want to achieve anything this season, then it will rely on the Blues sharpening defensively. Over the years, Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta have had success because they are solid.<\/p>\n<p>But it is not as if <a href=\"http:\/\/thechelseachronicle.com\/club\/manager\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Alonso<\/a> has got his tactics wrong. It is quite clear that he is informing his players to play in a certain way, but mistakes are being made. Take <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/tag\/malo-gusto\/\">Malo Gusto\u2019s<\/a> positioning on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-alonso-s-instructions-go-ignored-and-hull-city-profit\">Alonso\u2019s instructions go ignored and Hull City profit<\/h2>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.football.london\/chelsea-fc\/news\/xabi-alonso-pulls-no-punches-34608993\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Football London<\/a>, Alonso had instructed right-back Gusto to be more advanced in his positioning, more front-foot with his defending. But he was on the byline for Hull City\u2019s first goal.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"696\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2294883149-1024x696.jpg\" alt=\"Malo Gusto of Chelsea looks on\" class=\"wp-image-384871\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2294883149-1024x696.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2294883149-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2294883149-768x522.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2294883149-1536x1044.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2294883149-1140x775.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2294883149-750x510.jpg 750w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Malo Gusto of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League 2026\/27 match between Chelsea FC and Hull City at Stamford Bridge on September 12, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)\">Photo by Chris Lee \u2013 Chelsea FC\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ryan Giles outmuscled the Frenchman with ease and got a cross in, which bamboozled Jorrel Hato and led to Mohamed Belloumi\u2019s first goal. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/match-coverage\/paul-merson-couldnt-believe-what-chelsea-player-did-against-hull-city-it-was-terrible\/\">Paul Merson hammered Hato for his defensive mistake<\/a> yesterday.<\/p>\n<p>Austin MacPhee had also advised Gusto that he was too deep defensively, but he had failed to make the change before Hull\u2019s first goal went in. For Alonso, it must be incredibly frustrating on the touchline.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-xabi-alonso-needs-his-injured-players-to-return-quickly\">Xabi Alonso needs his injured players to return quickly<\/h2>\n<p>A lot has been made of Moises Caicedo\u2019s injury and the need for the Ecuadorian to return quickly. Many believe the former Brighton star\u2019s presence in the side will help shore up the leak of goals at Chelsea.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2291977287-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Marco Palestra of Chelsea\" class=\"wp-image-384692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2291977287-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2291977287-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2291977287-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2291977287-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2291977287-1140x760.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2291977287-750x500.jpg 750w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Marco Palestra of Chelsea before the Premier League 2026\/27 match between Fulham and Chelsea FC at Craven Cottage on August 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Pedro Porru\/MB Media\/Getty Images)\">Photo by Pedro Porru\/MB Media\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But perhaps, just as important, is the need to get new signing Marco Palestra back to fitness. Chelsea fans saw just how attacking, and how high Palestra plays on the right flank. For both systems, Palestra is key.<\/p>\n<p>Getting him back to full fitness will be important if Alonso is to finally get his Chelsea side playing in the way he wants them to play, rather than his instructions falling on deaf ears and Chelsea still conceding.<\/p>\n<div class=\"see-more-wrapper lazy see-more-open see-more-blank extra-content\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/match-coverage\/what-xabi-alonso-told-malo-gusto-moments-before-chelsea-conceded-first-goal-against-hull\/none\" data-type=\"subscribe\">\n<div class=\"see-more subscribe\">\n<figure class=\"newsletter\">\n<div><svg class=\"loading\" width=\"118\" height=\"36\" viewbox=\"0 0 118 36\"><use href=\"#dots-svg\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div class=\"signup\"><span class=\"hf\">Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow is-native contentpass\"> <a class=\"fw\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=thechelseachronicle.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add to Preferred Sources<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><script>grvLoadAnalytics = () => {(function(d,s,i){var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s);j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/www.googletagmanager.com\/gtag\/js?id=\"+i;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(document,'script','G-E7VRWQHDP6');(function(d,s,i){if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){var e=d.createElement(s);var n=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];e.type=\"text\/javascript\";e.async=true;e.src=\"https:\/\/static.chartbeat.com\/js\/chartbeat.js\";n.parentNode.insertBefore(e,n);}})(document,\"script\",\"G-E7VRWQHDP6\");(function(){let s=document.createElement(\"script\");s.async=true;s.dataset.domain=\"thechelseachronicle.com\/MFj4XQ\";s.src=\"https:\/\/api.publytics.net\/js\/script.manual.ping.min.js\";document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")[0].appendChild(s);})();if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){setTimeout(function(){!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');fbq('init','663509325503632');fbq('track','PageView');fbq('track','ViewContent',{content_name:'What Xabi Alonso told Malo Gusto moments before Chelsea conceded first goal against Hull',content_category:'Match Coverage',content_ids:[385052,\"malo-gusto\",\"xabi-alonso\"],content_type:'post',});},3000);}}<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/match-coverage\/what-xabi-alonso-told-malo-gusto-moments-before-chelsea-conceded-first-goal-against-hull\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Add to Preferred Sources Xabi Alonso only has short hair, but he must be pulling&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4479,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4478","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4478","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4478"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4478\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4479"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4478"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4478"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4478"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}