Chelsea must improve defensively, says manager Xabi Alonso

Alonso, who has won four of his first five matches, said the aim was to retain the team’s cutting edge while strengthening its defence. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Xabi Alonso admitted his free-scoring Chelsea team needs to become a better defensive unit after a swashbuckling start to the season that has featured goals galore at both ends.

Chelsea is the joint-top scoring side in the Premier League, plundering eight goals in three matches, but has also conceded seven.

The Blues’ rollercoaster ride continued on Wednesday when they found themselves 2-0 down against Leeds in the third round of the League Cup before roaring back to win 6-3.

Alonso, in his first season as Chelsea boss, told reporters on Friday that the Blues were a work in progress following a period of significant squad turnover.

The Spaniard, who has won four of his first five matches, said the aim was to retain the team’s cutting edge while strengthening its defence.

“We want to be more competitive, to be as good or even better in attack because I think there is room for improvement and to have the balance, to feel solid as well and to feel strong in defence,” he told reporters on Friday.

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“We want not to concede that many goals and that’s the work of everyone, from the strikers to the goalkeeper.”

Chelsea had surprisingly little possession in its opening two league matches, against Fulham and Brighton, but still came out on top in both games before losing at champions Arsenal last weekend.

Alonso said he wanted his side to have the mindset to adapt and that the context of each game was different.

“We are still in the early days to know what this team for sure is going to be,” he said. “I think that we will develop many things, we will develop with players, important players, they are joining and they are able to play.”

The former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss said high-flying Hull would be a tough challenge at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

“They (have) seven points, no goals conceded, they will be hard to beat, they have their weapons as well. With transitions, set-pieces, they have the belief, the coach is doing a great job.”