EPL: Alonso calls for Chelsea to defend better

September 12, 2026 9:30 pm

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has urged his side to become more solid defensively after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Hull in the Premier League.

The result means Chelsea have conceded two or more goals in each of their opening four league matches, while they have now gone 20 league games without keeping a clean sheet.

Chelsea took the lead through Morgan Rogers before Hull responded. Joao Pedro restored parity for the Blues in the second half, but Mohamed Belloumi’s second goal ensured Hull left Stamford Bridge with a point.

Alonso admitted Chelsea were not good enough defensively and said they got what they deserved from the match.

As reported by BBC Sport on Saturday, Alonso was quoted as saying, “We had one or two good chances to get the winner, but you’re still open. Not happy. We can do better. We got what we deserved,” Alonso said.

The Chelsea boss also criticised his players for allowing Hull back into the game after taking control.

“We need to be more solid and be more controlled,” he added. “When we get the lead, you still need to be competing and not to give the chance so easily for them to come back.”

Chelsea’s defensive problems were again highlighted by individual mistakes. Jorrel Hato misjudged a cross before Hull’s equaliser, while Belloumi’s second goal came after Chelsea failed to clear a corner.

Former defender Ashley Williams said Chelsea were particularly vulnerable when possession changed hands.

“Chelsea are all over the place in transitions. When they lose the ball, they are wide open,” Williams said.

“The goals they conceded are just basic errors. Both individually and as a defensive unit, they are so far off it and are shipping goals.”

Chelsea have continued to impress going forward, with Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro among the players contributing to their strong attacking form. However, Alonso acknowledged that the team currently has a major imbalance.

“Overall, I think that we are attacking better than defending in every part,” he said.

The Spaniard insisted his decision to use a back four against Hull was a tactical choice based on the qualities of his players rather than an attempt to solve the team’s defensive problems.

“It’s about the profile of the players,” Alonso explained. “You can say it was back three or four, so it’s about the choice of the players, their qualities

Gilbert Ekugbe

Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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