Chelsea’s training session this week is likely to focus on something special ahead of the trip to Everton
After a 3-0 defeat to Brentford before the international break, it was vital that Chelsea get back to winning ways. The Blues did just that against Bournemouth, with the Cherries five past in a dominant display.
Xabi Alonso’s team has played eight games this season and scored four more goals in three of those matches. They also scored three goals against Fulham on the opening day of the season.
Given that they boast perhaps the most devastating front three in England in Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers, it is perhaps unsurprising to see the west Londoners scoring so freely. But defensively, it’s a different story.
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The Blues have already conceded 13 goals in the English top flight, which is joint-highest with Bournemouth and Newcastle. The fact that all three teams promoted in the championship have better defensive records speaks volumes.
Although Alonso was delighted to beat Bournemouth by 5, he would have been frustrated by his team still conceding a goal. Chelsea’s only clean sheet this season came against Luton Town, who are currently 13th in League One, in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
“It will come,” Alonso said after the Bournemouth game when asked about keeping a clean sheet. “We were close today. Victory will come with a clean sheet.”
The Spaniard has previously criticized his team for defending. ““Overall, I think we’re better attacking than defending in every part,” the former Real Madrid coach said last month.
“We know it’s a big topic for us and it’s a big topic. Granted, it’s only four games, but the dynamic in terms of passing, I don’t like it and we have to do better. Open play, set-pieces, long balls, that toughness, that sense of competition, we can do better.”
Chelsea face Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, with David Moyes’ side currently unbeaten in the league. Staying strong at the back is likely to be a key theme during sessions over the coming days as Alonso and his coaches prepare for the weekend’s clash, as the Blues squad was busy at Cobham on Tuesday.
In fact, Joao Pedro has already revealed that the Blues need to “keep working” to get a clean sheet. Speaking after the victory over Bournemouth, the Brazilian said: “It was a great game. The international break was long. We had time to work, correct the mistakes in the game against Brentford and we got a great result.
“Of course you want to win with a clean sheet, so we have to keep working. Hopefully we’ll get that in the next game, but it was a great game and another three points.”
Everton have already kept three clean sheets in the Premier League this season and Alonso will be hoping his side can register for the first time on Saturday afternoon.