Alonso Faces Backlash as Chelsea Lose at Sunderland and Key Star Sits Out

WHO:

Daily Mail Sports - Kieran Gill wrote that Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea starting line-up was questionable and that Chelsea’s attackers did not “appear at it.”

Sportskeeda - Alonso said defender Josh Acheampong was left out of Chelsea’s squad because he was “recovering from a minor thing.”

Sportskeeda - Chelsea fans questioned Alonso’s training sessions after Acheampong missed the Sunderland match with a fitness issue.

BBC - Xabi Alonso, 44, was Chelsea manager; Sunderland was led by striker Brian Brobbey.

BBC - Chelsea players named in the report included Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Moises Caicedo, and Morgan Rogers.

BBC - Enzo Le Fee scored Sunderland’s goal; Luke O’Nien challenged Palmer.

WHAT:

BBC - Chelsea lost 1-0 to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, extending the team’s search for a clear identity.

BBC - Chelsea used a three-man midfield for the first time that season and played without a recognised striker for the second consecutive match; Neto again led the line.

BBC - Brobbey won a penalty after Colwill brought him down in the 36th minute; Le Fee converted it for the only goal.

BBC - Chelsea were denied a penalty moments earlier after Palmer went down following a challenge by O’Nien; VAR ruled the contact began outside the box.

BBC - Colwill was substituted at half-time. Caicedo filled in at centre-back despite barely completing a full training session that week and having his fitness carefully managed.

BBC - Chelsea created few clear chances; Morgan Rogers, a £117 million signing, missed a headed opportunity. Palmer also struggled after being left out of England’s squad.

BBC - Alonso said: “No, he's stoppable. He's stoppable, but we have to do it better than we did today.”

BBC - Alonso said Brobbey had “a couple of chances” and won the penalty, adding: “I'm not happy with how we defended that situation” and that conceding penalties was “not good for us.”

BBC - Alonso did not criticise the officials after the match and criticised his players for not carrying out the game plan properly.

WHERE:

BBC - The match took place at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

BBC - The report described Chelsea as continuing to seek an identity at Stamford Bridge.

WHY:

Sportskeeda - Alonso attributed Acheampong’s absence to the defender “recovering from a minor thing”; the article also described it as a fitness issue.

BBC - Alonso said Chelsea could have avoided the penalty situation and had worked on it during the week.

HOW:

BBC - Chelsea’s formation and personnel had changed repeatedly; before the season Alonso said he wanted his team to be “unpredictable.”

Chelsea lost 1-0 at Sunderland, extending their struggle to establish a clear identity. Enzo Le Fee converted a penalty after Levi Colwill fouled Brian Brobbey. Manager Xabi Alonso faulted Chelsea’s defending and said his players failed to follow instructions.