Chelsea Finally Get Their First Clean Sheet of the 26/27 Season: How Did Xabi Alonso Fix the Defence?

 

First of all, congrats, Chelsea fans. Your team's 2-0 win over Everton ended a run of 22 Premier League games without a clean sheet. Pedro Neto scored twice after the break, and the result made it back-to-back league wins either side of the international break.  What I remember most is how quickly it happened. Barely 43 seconds into the second half, Neto linked up smartly with Jorrel Hato on the left and rolled the ball in.

 

In my earlier piece on GoalBible, I questioned whether Chelsea were giving up attacking threat just to control possession. The defensive weaknesses kept showing up regardless. Two wins later, I have a different perspective. Alonso's possession game can work, but the bigger story, though, is how Xabi Alonso adjusted his defensive setup to finally protect his own goal.

 

I will not claim Chelsea have fixed everything. Everton created real chances before half-time, and this approach has not yet faced every kind of opponent. Still, the signs are encouraging. Here is what actually changed.

 

What Changed in Chelsea's Defensive Shape?

 

The most visible adjustment is Chelsea's move to a consistent 4-4-2 block when defending without the ball. Before the international break, the shape bent too easily. When opponents pushed their full-backs forward, Neto was often pulled deep into Chelsea's half, and the back four temporarily became a back five.

 

That helped match attacking numbers, but it created a knock-on problem. Neto left his right-midfield station, the midfield lost pressing presence, and the connections between the midfield and defensive lines stretched thin. The issue was not the formation itself. It was the constant reactive adjusting.

 

Since the international break, Chelsea have held their 4-4-2 mid-block with far more discipline. Neto stays higher. The midfield and backline remain connected. Opponents have less room to find space between the lines.

 

 

What I find interesting here is that Chelsea are not pressing more aggressively. They are pressing with better coordination. A well-organised block lets players know when to step out and when to hold. Without that understanding, one player pressing just opens a passing lane.

 

A 4-4-2 is not a cure-all. Overlapping full-backs, midfield rotations and deliberate movements can still drag Chelsea out of shape. The next test is holding this compactness when teams target those weak spots on purpose.

 

Why Is Moisés Caicedo So Important to Alonso's System?

 

Moisés Caicedo's value goes beyond tackles and recoveries. He recognises when Chelsea need him to press aggressively and when they need him to screen the space in front of the back four.

 

In the wins over Bournemouth and Everton, the Caicedo and Henderson partnership gave Chelsea a more controlled environment both on and off the ball. Off the ball, Caicedo's ability to screen the defensive line, drop in to cover the seam runs between the full-back and centre-back gaps, and jump aggressively in the press when needed has been central to Chelsea's hybrid system these past few games.

 

His return has also brought a huge improvement on the ball. The combination between him and Henderson has allowed Chelsea to establish more control in matches. The pair have been operating as a double pivot, playing close together and consistently giving each other a reference point to connect passes, take the sting out of games, and circulate possession to manage key moments.

 

Both players understand when to recycle possession through backward or sideways passes while retaining the ability to play forward and change the tempo, accelerating Chelsea's attacks through the middle third to find their dangerous frontline. That balance is harder to pull off than it sounds, and I think it's a big reason why Chelsea have looked more composed lately.

 

Caicedo nearly capped off a strong first half too. After a couple of flashpoints, Chelsea finished the opening period on top, with Caicedo smacking a powerful strike against the crossbar while unmarked from a corner. Moments like that show he's not just a defensive shield. He's also a genuine threat when he joins the attack.

 

 

Did the Clean Sheet Come From Tactics or Work Rate?

 

Tactics alone do not explain the clean sheet. Everton created several dangerous chances before half-time. Emiliano Martínez saved Merlin Röhl's driven effort, dealt with Thierno Barry's glancing header from a set-piece and tipped Jack Grealish's bouncing volley over the bar. Vitalii Mykolenko also set up Barry, whose effort was saved on the turn. Chelsea's defensive problems have not disappeared; they were simply managed more effectively.

 

What impressed me more was the physical side. Last season Chelsea were outrun in 36 of 38 games. This season they've already outrun their opponent in four of seven Premier League matches, beating last year's total outright. That tells you something about the mentality shifting.

 

The duel statistics reinforce this improvement. Chelsea lead the league in ground-duel success rate at 55.7% and rank fourth for aerial-duel success at 53.1%, behind Manchester City, Newcastle and Liverpool. Against Everton, Henderson covered more ground than any other player, setting an example for teammates such as Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers.

Those figures describe a team fighting harder for every ball. Even the best-drilled block eventually reaches a moment where someone has to win a duel. Structure gives players a framework, but it can't substitute for intensity, focus or desire. Chelsea need both.

 

Can Chelsea Defend Better Without Losing Their Attacking Threat?

 

Yes, and the early evidence suggests they can. The most encouraging part of this run is that Chelsea's defensive improvement has not cost them going forward. They beat Bournemouth 5-1 and Everton 2-0. Chelsea have scored 17 goals in their opening seven Premier League games.

 

The Everton match offered a useful lesson. After a tight first half, Neto scored shortly after the restart from a move involving Morgan Rogers and Jorrel Hato. His second came in the 90th minute when Chelsea punished Everton's failure to clear Henderson's free-kick.

 

Those two goals show different ways Chelsea can hurt teams. One came from a crafted attacking combination. The other came from reacting quickly when the opposition failed to deal with danger.

 

Both tell us something about Alonso's philosophy. Chelsea don't have to give up possession football to defend better. What they need is a structure that covers them when attacks break down.

 

The same logic applies in the final third. Alonso wants bodies in the box, including the opposite winger, the centre-forward and the attacking midfielders. The goal is to give the ball carrier several options, especially through cutbacks. But pushing more players forward makes midfield protection even more valuable. Enough players must stay in position to deal with counterattacks if the final pass doesn't come off. That's exactly where the Caicedo, Henderson and defensive block relationship matters. Their positioning lets Chelsea attack with confidence without leaving the defence exposed.

 

Has Chelsea Finally Turned a Corner?

 

I think Chelsea are moving in the right direction, but I would be careful about drawing big conclusions from two wins. The first clean sheet since January is a real psychological milestone after 22 league matches of conceding. But one clean sheet does not mean the defensive problems are gone.

 

What gives me more confidence is the combination of improvements. There is a more consistent 4-4-2 block, clearer pressing roles, Caicedo's protection, a balanced midfield partnership and more commitment in duels. These changes suggest Alonso is now treating possession and defensive security as connected problems rather than separate ones.

 

My biggest remaining concern is how Chelsea respond when opponents disrupt their structure. Stronger teams will attack the spaces around the full-backs, force Caicedo into hard decisions and use rotations to create uncertainty in midfield. If Chelsea can stay compact under that pressure, they will have a much stronger foundation for the rest of the season.

 

Chelsea vs Tottenham: Can Alonso's Side Extend Their Winning Run?

 

Yeah, I think it's possible. Chelsea have won two in a row, and the defensive structure finally looks better. Tottenham Hotspur are 16th and have been poor away from home. Form, venue, tactical match-up, it all points the same way for me.

 

Note: Odds are accurate as of 22 Oct 2026.

 

I’m backing Chelsea to win because they have home advantage and come into this match on the back of two consecutive league victories. Chelsea have also won their last six Premier League meetings with Tottenham. Spurs’ away struggles and the absences of Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall could allow Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers to exploit gaps between midfield and defence.

 

Note: Odds are accurate as of 22 Oct 2026.

 

Pedro Neto looks like a strong option for at least one shot on target. He's averaging 1.4 shots on target per 90 minutes this season and scored twice against Everton. With Tottenham conceding 10 goals in their first seven league games, I'd be happy to see Neto find the back of their net.