Xabi Alonso faces mounting pressure at Chelsea after a humbling 3-0 defeat at Brentford, but the Spaniard insists he is undergoing a “process” in West London.
Chelsea Boss Alonso Calls for Mentality Shift After Brentford Loss
The Blues endured a torrid evening at the Gtech Community Stadium, where a rampant Bees side punished them with goals from Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago, and Fabio Carvalho.
The result leaves Alonso winless in three matches heading into the international break, while Brentford climb to third in the Premier League table, maintaining their unbeaten start.
Chelsea’s defensive frailties remain a glaring issue. The visitors have yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season, conceding late against Hull last weekend and shipping seven goals in chaotic wins over Fulham and Brighton. Against Brentford, they offered little resistance.
Alonso, who cut an exasperated figure on the touchline, dismissed suggestions that the result exposed the difficulty of his new role.
“We knew that it’s a process,” Alonso responded.
“It’s only five games, and each game in a competitive Premier League is really hard. We knew that it was going to be hard, it’s nothing new.”
However, the Chelsea boss did not spare his players, questioning their mentality after the loss, which leaves the club seventh in the table.
“This is not enough to compete in the Premier League,” he told Sky Sports.
“We were not able to maintain our level for the full 90 minutes, and that’s why we were punished today.”
Alonso emphasized that the issues run deeper than tactics, pointing to a broader need for improvement.
“It’s about everything. It’s about the mentality, the football, and the tactical things that we need to keep improving,” he added.
“We can do much better.”
With the international window offering a brief respite, Alonso will need to find answers quickly.
Chelsea’s defensive record and inconsistent performances suggest that the “process” is far from bearing fruit, and the pressure on the Spaniard shows no signs of easing.
