Chelsea's 21-Match Clean Sheet Drought Is Xabi Alonso's Biggest Problem
Chelsea travel to Bournemouth with the worst defensive record in the Premier League and a midfield in flux, as Xabi Alonso searches for solutions before a daunting run of fixtures. Sky Sports News reporter James Savundra has outlined the two key issues the new Blues boss must solve.
- Next fixture: Chelsea face Bournemouth next in the Premier League
- Tough run: Everton (a), Spurs (h), Liverpool in the Carabao Cup (a), Man Utd (h) and Sunderland (a) before the next international break
- Defensive crisis: Chelsea have conceded more goals than any other side this season and have not kept a clean sheet in 21 Premier League matches
- Midfield trouble: Moises Caicedo has played just 14 minutes of Premier League football this season
- Goalkeeper: Emi Martinez is adapting more slowly than expected since arriving from Aston Villa
What was said
"The defensive issues that Chelsea have had pre-date Alonso's arrival. It is now 21 Premier League matches since they last kept a clean sheet which is remarkable - even though Chelsea have had a huge amount of change and there's been a huge amount of transition in 2026. For a club the size of Chelsea that simply isn't good enough."
"Emi Martinez, it felt like a no-brainer when they signed him, because of the issues they've had over the course of the last year few years when it comes to that goalkeeper situation but also there was an acceptance I think from most football fans that Emi Martinez isn't at the level that he was two or three years ago. Now clearly there's a period of adaptation which is taking longer than he and Chelsea would have hoped and perhaps he'll get back to that level which we've seen over the course of the last year. This is a World Cup winner he played in the World Cup final only a few months."
"Maxence Lacroix made a huge amount of sense as well in terms of bringing in an experienced defender who has still got the ability to get better but what has not helped Xabi Alonso is the number of injuries he's had. He's chopped and changed a little bit when it comes to that back line. I think the favoured backline, the favoured back three will be Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Lacroix. But already Colwill, who I thought was really impressive in the FA Cup final when he came back from injury, he has struggled somewhat on the left-hand side of defence with Lacroix playing deeper in terms of that back three."
"Josh Acheampong there needs to be a role for him as well. Chelsea fans want to see him in the starting XI. But you can't win anything if you don't have a strong core and the goalkeeper has struggled a little bit at the start of the season the backline isn't quite where it needs to be and the midfield is nowhere near right now."
"Moises Caicedo has only played 14 minutes in the Premier League this season and the midfield has changed every single week, culminating in what we saw on Friday Night Football - nobody would have predicted this - Jordan Henderson's first appearance in a Chelsea shirt, starting in a Premier League match against Brentford alongside Valentin Barco."
"I think Chelsea will look very different moving forward when you have Marco Palestra fit - he was really impressive in pre-season playing as one of the wing backs - and Caicedo alongside a midfielder. You feel like between now and January it's going to be a case of which midfielder can audition the best and prove to the Chelsea ownership group and to Xabi Alonso that they don't need to sign a midfielder in this transfer window."
"Romeo Lavia you could say that has been a real pro, the fact that he's remained fit and he has completed matches. But he didn't feature in that game against Brentford, so can you rely on him? Reece James, unfit once again. The dream scenario would probably be Caicedo alongside James but saying that, James has shown already this season that he still needs to learn that role because the goal that Martin Odegaard scored for Arsenal was all about James not tracking the runner. There was another game against Leeds where he failed to track his runner as well. So he's still learning the role."
"But things will look much better when everybody's fit and there is a real patience from everyone at Chelsea, from Xabi Alonso, from the ownership group that this will take time."
Savundra's assessment is blunt: Chelsea's problems at the back are not new, and they are not solely down to Alonso. The 21-match clean sheet drought is a damning statistic that pre-dates his arrival and underlines the scale of the rebuild. The signing of Emi Martinez was seen as an obvious fix for a long-standing goalkeeping issue, but the adaptation period is dragging. Maxence Lacroix was brought in for his experience and potential, yet injuries have forced Alonso to constantly reshuffle his defensive line.
In midfield, the absence of Moises Caicedo has been keenly felt. With just 14 Premier League minutes to his name this season, Chelsea have lacked control. The midfield has changed every week, and the nadir came on Friday Night Football when Jordan Henderson made his first Chelsea appearance, starting against Brentford alongside Valentin Barco - a combination nobody would have predicted. The message is clear: Chelsea need Caicedo back, and fast.
The numbers
- 21 - Premier League matches since Chelsea last kept a clean sheet
- 14 - Premier League minutes played by Moises Caicedo this season
- 1 - Jordan Henderson's first Chelsea start, against Brentford
- 0 - Clean sheets for Chelsea in their last 21 Premier League outings
Injury and availability
Moises Caicedo: Only 14 minutes of Premier League action this season; his absence has left Chelsea's midfield struggling to control games.
Marco Palestra: Currently unfit, but was impressive in pre-season as a wing-back.
Reece James: Unfit once again, and still learning the midfield role.
Romeo Lavia: Has remained fit and completed matches, but did not feature against Brentford.
Levi Colwill: Has struggled on the left-hand side of defence with Lacroix playing deeper in the back three.
Emi Martinez: Adapting at Chelsea but taking longer than hoped.
Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Maxence Lacroix: The favoured back three when all are available.
Josh Acheampong: Chelsea fans want to see him in the starting XI; Savundra says there needs to be a role for him.
Why Alonso must fix the spine, not just the back three
Xabi Alonso has a favoured defensive trio in Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Maxence Lacroix, but injuries have prevented him from fielding it consistently. The left-hand side has been a particular problem: Colwill has looked uncomfortable there, with Lacroix dropping deeper. That imbalance invites pressure and explains some of the 21-match wait for a clean sheet.
The bigger issue is the spine. With Moises Caicedo limited to 14 minutes, Chelsea have no screen in front of the defence. Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco started together against Brentford, a pairing that screamed improvisation. Romeo Lavia has stayed fit but was omitted at Brentford, raising doubts over his reliability. Reece James is the dream partner for Caicedo, but he is unfit and still learning the role - his failure to track runners cost Chelsea against Arsenal (Martin Odegaard's goal) and against Leeds.
When everyone is fit, Chelsea will look very different. Marco Palestra at wing-back and Caicedo alongside a settled partner would transform the team. Until then, Alonso must find a way to stop the rot. The upcoming run - Everton (a), Spurs (h), Liverpool in the Carabao Cup (a), Man Utd (h), Sunderland (a) - will test his tactical flexibility to the limit.
Talking points
- Should Alonso persist with Levi Colwill on the left of the back three despite his struggles, or move Lacroix wider to restore balance?
- Is Jordan Henderson's start against Brentford a sign of desperation or a genuine audition for a squad role?
- Can Chelsea afford to wait for Moises Caicedo, or must they sign a midfielder in January regardless of who impresses?
- Josh Acheampong's omission despite fan demand - is Alonso right to favour experience, or is he wasting a talent?
What happens next
Chelsea return to action against Bournemouth, the first of six matches before the next international break. The defence must stop leaking goals and the midfield must find control without Caicedo. Results against Everton, Spurs, Liverpool, Man Utd and Sunderland will define Chelsea's season and Alonso's early reputation. The January transfer window also looms: the audition for a midfield partner for Caicedo starts now.
Frequently asked questions
How many games has it been since Chelsea kept a clean sheet?
It is now 21 Premier League matches since Chelsea last kept a clean sheet, as reported by James Savundra.
Has Moises Caicedo played for Chelsea this season?
Yes, but only 14 minutes in the Premier League, according to Sky Sports News.
Who started in midfield for Chelsea against Brentford?
Jordan Henderson made his first Chelsea appearance, starting in the Premier League against Brentford alongside Valentin Barco.
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