With Rogers, Palmer and Joao Pedro delivering impressive attacking performances this season, the Blues understand that their defensive weaknesses must be addressed.
Alonso said his side created one or two promising opportunities to score the winner but remained vulnerable at the other end. He admitted he was disappointed, believed the team could improve and felt the result was deserved.
He added that the team must become more disciplined and composed. With new players and staff still adapting, he views it as an ongoing process and expects them to manage matches more effectively in the coming months.
However, Alonso explained that his decision to use a four-player defence was based on the characteristics of those available rather than being a direct response to the team’s recent defensive problems.
He said the formation could be interpreted as either a back three or a back four, but the important factor was selecting players according to their strengths and preferred positions.
Alonso pointed to Malo Gusto’s positioning and his attempts to combine with teammates on the right, insisting that the tactical adjustment was not especially significant from his perspective.
He also described Hato’s half-time substitution as a tactical choice before outlining what Chelsea must do to resolve their continuing difficulties.
Alonso acknowledged that the matches may be exciting for spectators, but said he would prefer a routine victory without unnecessary drama. He also admitted that the same mistakes have continued to appear.
He said correcting those issues will require time and better decision-making after taking the lead. The team must remain competitive and avoid giving opponents easy routes back into matches, particularly after defending too passively for the first goal.
Until that point, Chelsea had controlled the contest and produced chances, but conceding shifted both the momentum and the score. Alonso said the problem must be discussed and corrected because it is currently affecting the team’s performances.
Chelsea will have concerns ahead of Friday’s visit to Brentford, their final fixture before the three-week international break, as the Bees are particularly threatening from set-pieces.
Set-pieces are not their only concern, however. Most of Chelsea’s goals conceded have come during open play, an issue Alonso also recognised.
He believes the team is currently performing more effectively in attack than in defence across every area of the game.
Although only four matches have been played, Alonso is unhappy with the pattern of goals being conceded. He called for substantial improvements when defending open play, set-pieces and long passes, while also demanding greater resilience and competitiveness.
Several players have faced criticism from supporters, including Malo Gusto, whose substitution was cheered by sections of the home crowd at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have also appeared short of both depth and quality in midfield while Moises Caicedo has been unavailable through injury.
Monaco withdrew from a £47m deadline-day agreement that would have taken midfielder Lamine Camara to Chelsea. The club had also explored moves for Roma’s Manu Kone and Fulham’s Sander Berge.
Major defensive arrival Maxence Lacroix was omitted on Saturday, while none of Chelsea’s defensive options have produced outstanding displays this season. Their forwards, by contrast, remain in excellent form.
Alonso must now work on solving these problems in training, as Chelsea cannot strengthen the squad again until the January transfer window opens.
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