Xabi Alonso has admitted that Chelsea need to improve defensively, after his team made a spectacular start to the season, with many goals scored, but also conceded.
The Blues have scored eight goals in their opening three Premier League games, while conceding seven. The problems at the back were also evident in the League Cup, where Chelsea overcame a 2-0 deficit against Leeds to triumph with a spectacular 6-3 scoreline.
In that match, Alonso's team struggled for most of the first half, and the Spanish coach made four substitutions at half-time. The changes brought a remarkable response, with Chelsea scoring six goals in the second half to secure qualification.
However, for Alonso, the spectacle in attack must be accompanied by more balance in the defensive phase.
"We want to be more competitive, to be as good or even better in attack, because I think there is room for improvement, but we also want to have balance, to feel solid and strong in defence as well."
"We want to not concede so many goals and that's everyone's job, from the strikers to the goalkeeper."
The Spanish coach, who is in his first season in charge of Chelsea, has stressed that the team is still in the process of building, especially after the major changes in the composition.
"We're still in the early days to know for sure what this team will be."
"I think we will develop a lot of things. We will develop together with the players. Important players are joining us and are able to play."
Chelsea have shown great offensive potential in the first few weeks under Alonso, but a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League and 10 goals conceded in their first five games have highlighted the need for more stability at the back.
Alonso has already achieved significant results at the start of his adventure at Stamford Bridge, but the statistics show that Chelsea still have a lot of work to do to find the balance between exceptional power in attack and solidity in defence.
