Chelsea’s Set-Piece Strength Is Growing Under Xabi Alonso, But One Major Weakness Could Cost Them Dearly

Chelsea are becoming increasingly dangerous from set pieces, but there is one worrying problem that Xabi Alonso must address before it becomes a bigger issue.

The Blues have shown encouraging improvement when attacking dead-ball situations, with six of their 17 goals coming from set pieces. That is a positive sign for a team looking to become more effective in front of goal.

However, there is another side to the story that Chelsea supporters cannot ignore.

While Chelsea are finding ways to hurt their opponents from corners and other set-piece opportunities, they have conceded eight Premier League goals from similar situations.

That contrast raises a serious question: How can Chelsea become more dangerous from set pieces in attack while remaining so vulnerable when defending them?

For Alonso, the challenge is no longer just about making Chelsea more creative and clinical. It is also about ensuring that the team becomes organised, disciplined and difficult to break down when defending their own penalty area.

Chelsea Are Becoming a Real Threat From Set Pieces

One of the encouraging developments for Chelsea is their growing ability to turn set-piece opportunities into goals.

Out of the team’s 17 goals, six have come from set pieces. That means approximately 35 per cent of their total goals have been scored from these situations.

This is an important weapon in modern football.

When open-play opportunities are difficult to create, corners, free kicks and other dead-ball situations can provide another route to goal. A well-delivered cross, intelligent movement inside the penalty area and accurate finishing can make the difference between winning and dropping valuable points.

For Chelsea, this improvement gives Alonso another attacking option.

Opponents cannot focus entirely on stopping Chelsea’s passing combinations, individual dribbling and attacking transitions. They must also prepare for the threat posed by the Blues during set pieces.

That can create additional pressure on opposition defenders and give Chelsea more ways to find the net.

If the team continues to improve in this area, set pieces could become an important part of its attacking identity.

But there is a problem.

Chelsea must be able to defend the same situations that are helping them score goals.

Eight Set-Piece Goals Conceded: Chelsea’s Biggest Concern?

Chelsea’s attacking numbers tell a positive story, but the defensive figures are much less encouraging.

The Blues have conceded eight Premier League goals from set pieces, highlighting an area that requires serious attention.

Giving away goals from corners and free kicks can be particularly frustrating because these situations often provide teams with a clear opportunity to organise their defensive shape before the ball enters the penalty area.

Yet organisation alone is not enough.

Defenders must track their opponents, challenge for aerial balls, protect dangerous spaces and react quickly when the first contact is made. Goalkeepers also need clear communication with the players in front of them.

When any of these details are missing, opponents can take advantage.

Chelsea’s problem cannot automatically be blamed on one defender or one tactical decision. Set-piece defending involves the entire team, from the players responsible for marking opponents to those positioned to attack second balls and prevent follow-up chances.

The key question is whether Chelsea are losing these situations because of individual mistakes, poor positioning, a lack of concentration or problems with their overall defensive organisation.

Alonso and his coaching staff must identify the underlying causes rather than simply hoping the problem disappears.

Why Xabi Alonso Must Find a Solution

Xabi Alonso will understand that successful teams need more than an attractive attacking style.

They must also know how to protect leads, defend dangerous situations and manage the small details that can decide tight matches.

Chelsea’s set-piece statistics present a clear challenge for the manager. The team is already showing that it can make dead-ball situations count in attack, but the defensive side needs to become more reliable.

One possible starting point is a detailed review of every set-piece goal conceded.

Chelsea’s coaching staff can examine where the initial delivery lands, whether defenders lose their markers, how effectively the team contests aerial duels and whether opponents are finding too much space around the six-yard box.

The staff can then tailor training sessions to address the recurring problems.

Improving communication is equally important. Defenders need to understand their responsibilities before the ball is delivered, while the goalkeeper and defensive leaders must be able to organise the players around them.

The aim should not simply be to defend more aggressively. It should be to defend more intelligently.

If Chelsea can improve their positioning, concentration and decision-making, they may be able to reduce the number of avoidable goals conceded.

Chelsea’s Marking, Concentration and Organisation Must Improve

Set-piece defending is often decided by small details.

A defender can be in the correct position but still lose an opponent by reacting too late. Another player might win the first aerial challenge, only for the team to concede from a rebound because nobody is prepared to clear the second ball.

These moments can change matches.

Chelsea must become more consistent in three important areas.

1. Marking opponents effectively

Players must understand whether they are responsible for a particular opponent or a specific area. Whatever system Alonso chooses, every defender needs to know their role and execute it consistently.

2. Maintaining concentration

Defensive work does not end when the initial cross is cleared. Chelsea must remain alert to rebounds, flick-ons and second phases of attacking play.

3. Protecting dangerous spaces

The team must limit the opportunities opponents have to attack the ball freely. Good positioning, strong communication and decisive clearances can help prevent routine set pieces from becoming clear scoring chances.

These improvements may not attract as much attention as a spectacular goal or a brilliant attacking performance, but they can be just as important over the course of a Premier League season.

Could Set Pieces Decide Chelsea’s Premier League Ambitions?

Chelsea’s ambitions will be judged by their ability to deliver consistent results against different types of opponents.

Against teams that defend deeply, attacking set pieces can provide a valuable route to goal. Against strong opponents, however, conceding from corners and free kicks can undo otherwise impressive performances.

That is why the balance between attacking threat and defensive reliability matters so much.

Chelsea cannot afford to become a team that scores from set pieces one week but loses control of its own penalty area the next.

If the Blues want to challenge consistently near the top of the Premier League table, they must reduce the number of preventable goals they concede.

There is no guarantee that solving this issue alone would turn Chelsea into title contenders. Consistency, squad depth, injury management and performances in open play will also matter.

Nevertheless, improving set-piece defending could help Chelsea protect leads, secure more points and avoid unnecessary setbacks.

The positive news is that the attacking threat is already there. Now, the challenge is to build a more dependable defensive foundation.

Chelsea Fans Have Every Reason to Demand Improvement

Chelsea supporters will be encouraged by the fact that six of the team’s 17 goals have come from set pieces. It shows how valuable these situations can be when executed well.

But supporters also have every reason to question why the team has conceded eight Premier League goals from set pieces.

The difference between those figures is a reminder that football requires balance. Being dangerous in one penalty area means little if the team repeatedly gives opponents opportunities in the other.

Alonso now faces an important coaching challenge: preserve Chelsea’s attacking threat while making the defence more disciplined and difficult to exploit.

The solution will require hard work on the training ground, better communication and greater concentration from the entire team.

Chelsea have demonstrated that they can make set pieces count in attack. The next step is to show that they can defend them with the same determination.