Alonso insists Chelsea’s problems need time to fix after Brentford beating
By Luke Oluoch, September 19, 2026Xabi Alonso has admitted that Chelsea are facing significant challenges, asserting that it will take time to fully address those priorities.
Speaking after a 3-0 defeat to Brentford on Friday, September 18, 2026, the Spaniard said his team’s challenges extended beyond merely defending set pieces, touching also on their inability to maintain composure and see out games even when they had gone ahead.
This comes after the demolition by the West London side made them the worst defensive club in the division. The Blues have conceded more than two goals since the league opener and, for the first time, failed to score in a league game.
The unwanted stat also has Alonso as only the sixth manager to see his side concede 2+ goals in each of his first five games as a Premier League manager, after Mick McCarthy, Sammy Lee, Terry Connor, Slavisa Jokanovic, and former Fulham gaffer, Scott Parker.
“It is not just on-set pieces but also in controlling the game, in duels, and in different phases of play,” he noted.
The former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen gaffer, who is just beginning his stint with the Blues, remained hopeful of finding solutions to their immediate challenges.
“When you lose games from a winning position after scoring, and failing in transitions, it means that we have not been addressing the things we have been seeking to improve—to be able to control the game and compete till the end of the game,” he said. “It will take time, and at the moment, we are not doing it well.”
This comes after the coach also attributed the second half’s capitulation to lapses in concentration.
“I’m disappointed at the end with the second half and the result,’ he said. ‘This is not enough to compete in the Premier League, not to be able to go for the 90 minutes. This is why today we were punished.
“At the moment, we are not being consistent enough to compete during the whole game, 45 [minutes] is not enough, you need to play the whole game knowing each detail is important and each action can be decisive.
The London side remains winless in three league games.