Xabi Alonso blasts Chelsea stars after dismal 3-0 defeat to Brentford

‎Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso accused his players of dropping their ‘competitive mentality’ in the second-half of their 3-0 drubbing by Brentford.

‎Alonso’s Blues shipped three goals in a dire second 45 display and they are now winless in three games as they go into the three-week international break.

‎It was their first defeat at their west London neighbours’ ground since the Bees’ promotion to the Premier League in 2021.

‎In a sluggish first-half, both teams managed just two shots on target but Brentford were invigorated after the break and took the game to Chelsea.

Emiliano Martinez and Jordan Henderson of Chelsea look dejected after the team’s defeat to Brentford . (Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

‎Alonso’s side, meanwhile, failed to test Caoimhin Kelleher in the second-half as they failed to score for the first time this season.

‎Speaking post-match, Blues boss Alonso admitted he has a tough job on his hands and bemoaned the second-half drop-off.

‎’We dropped our consistency and competitive mentality in the second half,’ said Alonso. ‘The small details can be decisive.‎

‎’You don’t have to give advantage in these kind of games where they do with little, they get a lot and credit to them.

‎’It’s about 90 minutes and we have not been able to keep that level throughout these few games at the start of the season. It’s something we have to do better.

‎’It’s a process and it’s still five games in a competitive Premier League where each game is really hard. We knew it was going to be hard, so (the job) is not going to be easy at all.’

Igor Thiago celebrates scoring his team’s second goal against Chelsea (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

‎Brentford boss Keith Andrews, meanwhile, went through it all.

‎Andrews has led the Bees to third in the Premier League standings as he looks to build on a successful campaign last season, which saw the club narrowly miss out on qualification for Europe.

‎’I feel like I have played,’ Andrews told BBC Match of the Day. ‘It’s important that you enjoy evenings like this because you work so hard and there are so many tough days in this game.

‎’When you play against a west London rival, and you build up to a game and you go on a bit of a journey with the team, there are always bumps along the way, but we were in a really good place and it’s nice to see it come to fruition tonight.’

‎He added: ‘I felt there was a performance bubbling. I just could see that in the players’ eyes last couple of days.

‎’The approach has been really focused and I thought in the second-half in particular we showed exactly what we are.’

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