New system, same problems - Alonso not happy with 'soft' Chelsea
It was subdued at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea's 2-2 draw with newly promoted Hull City.
Chelsea's manager Xabi Alonso expressed dissatisfaction with his team's defensive performance in their 2-2 draw against Hull City, highlighting that the Blues have conceded two or more goals in each of their first four league matches for the first time in 11 years. The issue extends beyond Alonso's tenure, as Chelsea has now gone 20 league matches without a clean sheet since January, a record dating back to 1955.
Alonso acknowledged that his team has been "soft" in duels, with Hull City capitalizing on Chelsea's defensive vulnerabilities. Despite an early goal from Morgan Rogers and a second-half equalizer from Joao Pedro, Chelsea ultimately had to settle for a point following defensive errors from Mohamed Belloumi and Mohamed-Ali Cho. Alonso emphasized the need for the team to be more "solid and controlled" defensively, stating that the recent changes, including a shift to a back four, were not aimed at addressing the defensive issues.
He also noted that the team's attack remains strong, but conceded that the focus remains on improving the defensive performance, particularly in open play.
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