Xabi Alonso was left disappointed after Chelsea fell 2-0 to Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. He admitted his players fell short in both performance and result.
The Chelsea boss did not hide behind excuses. He said the whole squad shared responsibility and accepted that his team needs to improve.
The defeat was a rare home loss in a London derby, and it ended with Spurs celebrating a rare win at the Bridge.
A Rain-Soaked Derby With Chances at Both Ends
The game was played in heavy rain, and both teams created openings over the 90 minutes.
Cole Palmer forced Antonin Kinsky into a good save in the first half. The Tottenham goalkeeper also denied Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers and Pedro Neto.
Chelsea’s Mike Penders was busy at the other end. He kept out efforts from Omar Marmoush and Mathys Tel.
For long spells, the match could have swung either way. Then everything changed late on.
The Own Goal That Changed the Game
With 13 minutes left, Tottenham won a corner. Penders ended up putting the ball into his own net, and Spurs had the lead.
Chelsea then lost Palmer, who was sent off for a second yellow card. Tel struck late to seal the points for Tottenham.
Xabi Alonso Reacts: ‘We All Take the Blame’
Alonso was honest when he spoke after the match. He said the display did not match the level Chelsea showed in their back-to-back wins over Bournemouth and Everton.
‘We all take the blame for the result and for the performance,’ he said. ‘Today we were not at our best. I felt that in the second half, the game was even and could have gone either way. Once we conceded that first goal, and then with the red card, it was difficult.’
He explained how the first goal affected his side.
The Blues manager continued: ‘In the second half, it was tight, with some half-chances for them and half-chances for us. It was about taking a moment and once we conceded the first goal, it conceded everything. Then, when we wanted to have a reaction, we got the red card. Then it went the other way.
‘We can do better. It’s one to reflect after this big game that it was against a good opponent. And the performance, it’s one to improve.’
Joao Pedro’s Injury Forced a Late Rethink
Chelsea’s preparation was disrupted on the eve of the game. Joao Pedro picked up an injury in training and was ruled out of the squad.
Alonso said the Brazilian forward’s absence forced a late change to the game plan.
He said: ‘We had to take many decisions in a short time. What we had been working on in the week, you need to be flexible and adapt. So it changed the idea we had a little bit, but this is football, and it can happen.
‘It’s no secret that with Joao we are better, but it’s not about talking about the players missing. It’s about the players who were on the pitch. We can do better and we have to be critical of ourselves.’
Waiting on Test Results
Before kick-off, Alonso gave an update on the forward’s condition. He said Joao Pedro has some fluid around the injury, so Chelsea need to run tests to learn how serious it is.
‘He felt something yesterday in training,’ Alonso said. ‘At the moment, he has some fluid [around the injury], so we have to do some tests to see how big is the injury is. For sure, it’s a disappointment, but we need to carry on.’
Debuts for Penders and Quenda
Alonso made two changes to the side that started the win at Everton the previous weekend.
The first was expected. Penders came in for Emi Martinez, who had jaw surgery after a heavy collision with Jarrad Branthwaite at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The second was forced by Joao Pedro’s injury. Geovany Quenda replaced him in the starting XI.
Quenda Gets His Big Chance
The game marked the Portuguese winger’s first top-flight start in English football since he arrived in the summer.
Alonso spoke warmly about his qualities before the game.
He has many qualities,’ Alonso said when asked about Quenda’s selection.’ He attacks the space well, is good with the ball, and is a threat. He’s been training well, and all the players will have their opportunities. Sometimes, they have to be more patient. Geo has been patient, and today it’s a big game to make his debut as a starter.
‘We want to have mobility and to be fluid, so that we are not static and for sure with Geo we have those qualities.’
Penders Trusted in Goal
Penders made his first Premier League start in this match. He had made his debut off the bench against Everton a week earlier.
Alonso said he was confident in the young goalkeeper.
‘I believe in every player we have and today it’s the first start in the PL for Mike,’ explained Alonso. ‘He showed last weekend against Everton that the can have a good impact. We need to deal with injuries and now he has a good chance, and we are fully confident.’
A Derby Built for Intensity
Before kick-off, Alonso expected a fierce contest. Chelsea were also chasing an unprecedented seventh Premier League win over their London rivals.
He stressed the part the home fans would play in creating the atmosphere.
‘It will be an intense game at a high tempo and high intensity on the pitch and in the stands. A proper derby. We expect an intense game with different moments for everything, with our qualities and the qualities of Tottenham. So it’s going to be very interesting.’
What Comes Next for Chelsea
The result will sting, but Alonso’s message was clear. Chelsea were not at their best, and he wants his players to learn from the defeat.
The red card, the own goal and the loss of Joao Pedro all made life harder. Even so, the manager chose to focus on what his team can control.
The next step is to bounce back from a tough derby. Alonso will also be hoping the test results on Joao Pedro bring better news.