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'Bullied' and 'out of control' - Chelsea's defensive issues laid bare

Chelsea's defensive vulnerabilities were exposed once more during a comprehensive 3-0 defeat away to Brentford. The result marks the club's 11th loss of the calendar year—already eclipsing their entire tally from 2025 with three months still to play—and represents the fifth consecutive Premier League match where Xabi Alonso's squad has shipped two goals or more.

Dead-ball situations proved catastrophic again, as Jaidon Anthony nodded the hosts ahead from a targeted far-post corner that left goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and his defenders flat-footed, echoing identical breakdowns seen in their preceding fixture against Hull. Vitaly Janelt confirmed Brentford deliberately aimed at that vacant space straight after the interval.

That concession brought Chelsea's tally to four set-piece goals allowed across five top-flight matches, pushing their total since the start of last season to a league-worst 23. This ongoing weakness persists despite the presence of specialist coach Austin MacPhee and his predecessor Bernardo Cueva, who was previously hired away from Brentford.

Following a second half in which Alonso acknowledged a collapse in concentration and battle-readiness, defender Levi Colwill admitted the squad had been physically dominated at times, though he maintained belief in their tactical training while calling for urgent collective progress.

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