{"id":5449,"date":"2026-09-20T14:06:51","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T14:06:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=5449"},"modified":"2026-09-20T14:06:51","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T14:06:51","slug":"pundit-sums-up-chelsea-perfectly-with-brutal-verdict-on-summer-signing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=5449","title":{"rendered":"Pundit sums up Chelsea perfectly with brutal verdict on summer signing"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"\/ Add to Preferred Sources<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Chelsea deserve all the criticism they are getting right now after losing to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Friday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Losing is a bit of an understatement. In the second half, it was a hammering as Xabi Alonso\u2019s<\/a> men succumbed to a 3-0 defeat.<\/p>\n

\n

Former Chelsea<\/a> player Frank Leboeuf has defended Valentin Barco<\/a>, who was making his first start in the Premier League this season. However, ex-Liverpool star Steve Nicol<\/a> was having none of it.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n

What should Xabi Alonso do with Levi Colwill after the international break?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Steve Nicol claims Valentin Barco won\u2019t scare Chelsea\u2019s opponents in midfield<\/h2>\n

Nicol has not been as kind as Leboeuf and has torn into Barco<\/a> following his performance against Brentford. Nicol has criticised his passing and has claimed that the 22-year-old will not scare too many players on the football pitch this term.<\/p>\n

Speaking on ESPN FC<\/a>, he said: \u201cHis passing wasn\u2019t incredible. He certainly doesn\u2019t scare you physically. I don\u2019t know how quick he gets around the ground because it didn\u2019t look today as though he was quick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Had all of Alonso\u2019s midfield options been available, the likelihood is that Barco would have started on the bench. Moises Caicedo was absent once again because of injury, while Reece James joined him on the sidelines.<\/p>\n

Romeo Lavia was on the bench but did not come on, with Alonso perhaps trying to manage his minutes after all of his injury problems. As each day goes by, Chelsea\u2019s decision to sell Enzo Fernandez looks worse<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Of course, the World Cup winner pushed for a move and wanted out, but not replacing him is unforgivable. Chelsea have five sporting directors. What are they paying them to do?<\/p>\n

Chelsea have become soft and easy to play against<\/h2>\n

Barco is not the only Chelsea player who should be singled out here. There is not one Chelsea player in Alonso\u2019s squad who is scaring anyone.<\/p>\n

The Blues have become a really soft and weak outfit. An injury to Cole Palmer or Joao Pedro, and they become a team you want to face every week.<\/p>\n

It is painful to say, but Chelsea need to become more like Arsenal. They need to be aggressive and bullies at set pieces. They are such a small team, in terms of actual size, and also soft, unlike Chelsea sides of the past. <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/svg><\/p>\n
Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n
\"\"\/ Add to Preferred Sources<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n