Chelsea experienced a disappointing match when they let Brentford score 3 goals in the second half and suffered a 0-3 defeat at Gtech Community Stadium. Notably, Alonso's team has conceded at least 2 goals in all 5 Premier League matches since the beginning of the season.
The midfield continues to be a problem when Moises Caicedo is absent due to a muscle injury, and Reece James is also absent. Alonso is forced to use Jordan Henderson, 36 years old, along with new signing Valentin Barco in the central area.
Romeo Lavia was on the bench but was not used. Instead, Alonso brought Nicoll-Jazuli on when Chelsea was trailing 0-2 and needed to find an equalizer.
This decision immediately attracted attention. Glenn Murray said that the fact that a 16-year-old player was given the opportunity in such circumstances clearly reflects the personnel issue that Chelsea is facing.
I think when Xabi Alonso brought young player Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, only 16 years old, onto the field when his team was losing 2-0, it was a message to the board that they did not have enough personnel in midfield after Santos and Fernandez left in the transfer window," Murray said.
That is a big blind spot for them. They used to have right-backs playing in the central midfielder position in a few matches, today they have two real midfielders but bringing the 16-year-old player onto the field is a big message".
Chelsea sold Andrey Santos to Manchester United and Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City in the summer transfer window. The London team also reached an agreement to recruit Lamine Camara from Monaco to strengthen the midfield, but the final deal was unsuccessful.
Joe Cole agreed with Murray's opinion and said that Alonso's attitude after the match also attracted attention.
Glenn is completely right. Xabi Alonso is sending a message to the board that we are not strong enough and I am putting a 16-year-old boy in midfield when we are chasing the score away from home against the opponent.
For me, it's too obvious. And the way he left at the end of the match, I think he's very angry about it.
The defeat to Brentford continues to raise questions about Chelsea's squad depth, especially in the central midfielder position, as Alonso is having to find a temporary solution in the context of many important options unable to play.
