{"id":5709,"date":"2026-09-22T08:02:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T08:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=5709"},"modified":"2026-09-22T08:02:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T08:02:38","slug":"alan-shearer-has-noticed-something-absolutely-dreadful-about-chelsea-under-xabi-alonso","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=5709","title":{"rendered":"Alan Shearer has noticed something absolutely ‘dreadful’ about Chelsea under Xabi Alonso"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Chelsea have locked up seven points from their first five Premier League games under Xabi Alonso \u2013 a steady start that could be worse. But Alonso has problems, and Alan Shearer is not impressed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Chelsea<\/a> gaffer watched his side start well, beating Fulham, Luton and Brighton before a competitive defeat at Arsenal that was a cause of optimism for fans. The win against Leeds papered over cracks.<\/p>\n

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But after the draw against Hull and the hammering at Brentford, the Xabi Alonso<\/a> novelty has worn off. Chelsea\u2019s long-term problems have continued under Alonso; no league clean sheets in 21 matches.<\/p>\n

Shearer: Something \u2018dreadful\u2019 is happening at Chelsea <\/h2>\n

Alan Shearer<\/a> is not impressed. On The Rest Is Football<\/a> on Tuesday, the Premier League\u2019s all-time record goalscorer hammered the Blues\u2019 defensive approach this season, criticising their set-piece defending.<\/p>\n

John Terry has already pointed out set-pieces as an issue, questioning why Valentin Barco was marking Brentford\u2019s Jannik Schuster<\/a> for the first of three goals at the G-Tech. Shearer continued the criticism.<\/p>\n

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How would you rate Xabi Alonso’s first weeks at Stamford Bridge?<\/h3>\n

What has worked, and what needs improving? \ud83e\udd14<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cWell, he [Alonso] has got to find a solution. It is alarming because if you concede in an open play, and you\u2019re also conceding from set pieces, which they look dreadful, look really weak and really poor. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, he\u2019s got to get those players in terms of a unit, getting stronger and tighter together because they\u2019re far too open and far too weak,\u201d Shearer summed up about Chelsea, with the Blues conceding 15 goals.<\/p>\n

Alonso joins unwanted club of six Premier League bosses<\/h2>\n

Gary Lineker summed it up earlier this week.<\/a> Chelsea have got to stop relying on their attacking players to score three or more goals every week because obviously, that cannot happen every week at this level.<\/p>\n

No matter how good the attack is, Chelsea will not score three goals every game. Every successful side in the Premier League has had a solid defence. Alonso has joined a group of six Premier League managers.<\/p>\n

Only six have conceded two or more in each of their first five Premier League matches. Alonso is now the sixth manager in Premier League history to oversee that, with former Chelsea man Scott Parker another.<\/p>\n

Mick McCarthy, too. McCarthy is famous for simply replying \u201cit can\u201d when asked if his Wolves side could get any worse \u2013 and that is exactly the same for Chelsea right now. The break came at the right time.<\/p>\n

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