Sport

Chelsea are still lacking a dominant defender to make them title challengers

Anyone who has watched Chelsea in their first two Premier League games of the season has surely enjoyed themselves. Xabi Alonso’s team have scored seven goals against Fulham and Brighton with the Blues as formidable in the attacking third as any other side in the English top flight at this moment in time.

As a defensive unit, though, Chelsea have been lacking, conceding two to Fulham and three to Brighton. The Stamford Bridge side have certainly made progress over the summer, but they’re still missing the dominant presence at the back to make them genuine Premier League title challengers this season.

Alonso has so far deployed his team in a back three. Maxence Lacroix was signed to be part of that defensive unit having thrived in a back three for Crystal Palace and the Frenchman has been quickly integrated into the Chelsea starting lineup. Levi Colwill is also a good fit for a back three due to his ability in playing out from the defence.

Chelsea’s penalty box defending in their first two games of the season, however, hasn’t been good enough. This was most evident in the 4-3 win over Brighton when new goalkeeper Emi Martinez had to make a number of saves to prevent the Seagulls from leaving Stamford Bridge with a point or more.

Some of this might be down to a lack of protection from the full backs. Jorrel Hato and Pedro Neto offer plenty in an attacking sense with both players contributing to goals scored in the victory against Brighton. As defenders, though, they leave space for opponents to exploit. Chelsea have yet to find the right balance across the backline.

Martinez’s arrival from Aston Villa should make a difference. Robert Sanchez was a liability as Chelsea’s starting goalkeeper, as his performance in the win over Fulham on the opening weekend of the new season made clear. Martinez is a better shot-stopper and will bring leadership qualities to the dressing room.

Wesley Fofana has the potential to become a more commanding figure for Chelsea under Alonso. The Frenchman has failed to get his Chelsea career going since joining the Stamford Bridge club from Leicester City for £70m in August 2022, but Fofana might finally be over his injury troubles. Physically and technically, he has real potential.

The position Chelsea find themselves in at this moment in time is reminiscent of the position Liverpool were in before the landmark signing of Virgil Van Dijk. Before that, Jurgen Klopp had instilled many of his principles and ideas in his Liverpool players, but lacked the defensive foundation to truly challenge for the biggest prizes. Van Dijk changed this.

Chelsea are still looking for their Van Dijk. Or their Gabriel Magalhaes or William Saliba, both of whom have flourished as the foundation to a title-winning Arsenal team. If titles are won by defences, Alonso is a long way from having a side that can finish top of the Premier League.

Last season was a mess for Chelsea. Their 10th-place finish was reflective of a campaign that saw three different managers pass through Stamford Bridge with the club’s transfer strategy leading to a mishmash of a squad that lent itself to no clear or coherent style of play. Chelsea got what they deserved.

Alonso inherited several big problems and is working hard to find solutions. Some progress has been made, but Chelsea won’t become a title-winning team until the Spaniard has had more time to mould the Blues in his own image. Chelsea have some of the players they need. Not all of them, though. A top-level centre back would take them to the next level.