Xabi Alonso admits that entertaining Chelsea must tighten up defensive record

[p]The Blues are the joint-top scorers in the Premier League, plundering eight goals in three matches, but have also conceded seven.[/p][p]Their rollercoaster ride continued on Wednesday when they found themselves 2-0 down against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/leeds/tUxUbLR2/"]Leeds[/a] in the third round of the League Cup before roaring back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/leeds-tUxUbLR2/?mid=K2DLaNQF"]to win 6-3[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alonso-xabi/hAcTWKKN/"]Alonso[/a], in his first season as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] boss, told reporters on Friday that the Blues were a work in progress following a period of significant squad turnover.[/p][p]The Spaniard, who has won four of his first five matches, said the aim was to retain the team's cutting edge while strengthening their defence.[/p][p][b]"We want to be more competitive, to be as good or even better in attack because I think there is room for improvement and to have the balance, to feel solid as well and to feel strong in defence," [/b]he told reporters on Friday.[/p][p]"We want not to concede that many goals and that's the work of everyone, from the strikers to the goalkeeper."[/p][embed guid="d601d0ea-dcc8-4133-b86a-b39d2304a951" url="https://x.com/ChelseaFC/status/2098336747209867525" social-type="twitter" /][p]Chelsea had surprisingly little possession in their opening two league matches, against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fulham/69ZiU2Om/"]Fulham[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brighton/2XrRecc3/"]Brighton[/a], but still came out on top in both games before losing at champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] last weekend.[/p][p]Alonso said he wanted his side to have the mindset to adapt and that the context of each game was different.[/p][p][b]"We are still in the early days to know what this team for sure is going to be," [/b]he said.[/p][p]"I think that we will develop many things, we will develop with players, important players, they are joining and they are able to play."[/p][image alt="Win probability" id="0f1735db-f63d-4873-95ab-52ef1daa1813" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="ee57e16c-2c31-497b-9eda-39481a2229e9" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]The former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayer-leverkusen/4jcj2zMd/"]Bayer Leverkusen[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] boss said high-flying Hull would be a tough challenge [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/hull-S66R0t75/?mid=G8yViRgc"]at Stamford Bridge on Saturday[/a].[/p][p][b]"They (have) seven points, no goals conceded, they will be hard to beat, they have their weapons as well,"[/b] he said.[/p][p]"With transitions, set-pieces, they have the belief, the coach is doing a great job."[/p][p]Chelsea announced on Friday that Portugal international [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neto-pedro/lxtnUkIP/"]Pedro Neto[/a], 26, had signed a new deal until 2032.[/p][p][b]"It's an unbelievable moment,"[/b] said the winger, who arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2024. [b]"From when I arrived, I have always felt like the people here helped me a lot.[/b][/p][p]"I feel like home here, I feel like I want to achieve more things here."[/p]