{
  "id": 14418213,
  "title": "Chelsea’s defensive crisis: Alonso’s system, missing pieces, or individual errors?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/chelseas-defensive-crisis-alonsos-system-missing-pieces-or-individual",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T09:23:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/chelseas-defensive-crisis-alonsos-system-missing-pieces-or-individual-errors/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chelsea's defensive issues have raised questions about Xabi Alonso's system, missing players, or individual mistakes. The Chelsea side has conceded 12 goals in five Premier League games, the worst defensive record in the league. Despite flashes of attacking ambition, defensively, they appear uncontrolled. The 3-0 loss to Brentford extended their streak without a clean sheet to over 20 matches. Alonso's defensive reputation contrasts with Chelsea's current struggles. Chelsea's defensive line can be aggressive, and wing-backs advance high up the pitch, but this explanation alone is insufficient. Alonso's previous teams at Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid had strong defensive records. The answer to Chelsea's defensive issues seems to be a combination of missing personnel, an incomplete tactical structure, and repeated individual errors. Moises Caicedo's absence is more than just losing a midfielder; he is crucial in Alonso's 'Rest Defence' system. Caicedo anticipates danger, covers ground quickly, wins second balls, and defends both centrally and towards the touchline. His positioning allows defenders to remain compact, preventing opponents from launching counter-attacks quickly. Without Caicedo's protection, Chelsea can become vulnerable to counter-attacks, as seen in the Brentford defeat.",
  "summary": "Twelve goals conceded in five Premier League games have left Chelsea with the Premier League’s worst defensive record. Is Xabi Alonso’s system being exposed, are key absences destabilizing the side, or are too many players simply making costly mistakes? There is a clear contradiction at the heart of Chelsea’s start to the Premier League season. […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}