Chelsea reportedly experienced a 2-0 defeat against Championship side Portsmouth in a closed-doors friendly match held at the Cobham Training Centre on Saturday, October 3. The fixture took place during the ongoing extended international break, with Portsmouth, currently 19th in the Championship, securing the victory. According to the Daily Mail, the match served as a tactical exercise for head coach Xabi Alonso and featured a mix of academy prospects, first-team squad members, and players returning from injury.
The club has endured a mixed start to life under the former Liverpool midfielder, who arrived at Stamford Bridge this summer following his tenures at Real Madrid and Bayer 04 Leverkusen. While the team secured victories in their opening two Premier League fixtures, they have since gone winless in their subsequent three matches. Their defensive record remains a concern, with 12 goals conceded thus far in the top flight. Losing twice in their last three Premier League games and having one of the worst defensive records in the top flight, with 12 goals conceded, alonso’s side have fallen off the pace after a bright start to the season.
Chelsea’s most recent competitive outing resulted in a 3-0 loss to Brentford last month. Despite holding 60% of the possession, Alonso’s side managed only two shots on target as goals from Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago, and Fabio Carvalho settled the game. This result, combined with a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal and a 2-2 draw against Hull City, has dropped the Blues to 10th in the standings, trailing league leaders Manchester City by eight points.
Free from European football following last season’s 10th-place finish, Chelsea have focused on domestic competitions, including an EFL Cup run that saw them defeat Luton Town 2-0 and Leeds United 6-3. Alonso now looks to steady his side as they prepare to return to Premier League action against AFC Bournemouth at home on Saturday, October 10. Following that encounter, the team faces a challenging trip to face Liverpool on October 28.
