Xabi Alonso has admitted the Blues are still lacking the quality needed to perform in the Premier League following their latest implosion against Sunderland on Sunday, 8 November 2026.

Speaking after the solitary-goal defeat to the Black Cats, the Spaniard painted a scathing appraisal of his charges, asserting that their performance was not worthy of winning the encounter.

“It was not the best performance; I am not happy. We did not create enough chances. We did not have enough patience or creativity to create chances. That is why we were not close to scoring,” Alonso said.

Chelsea had an impressive start to the season, scoring 16 goals in their opening six Premier League matches. But their attacking momentum has slowed considerably, with only four goals in their next four games.

Against Sunderland, Chelsea had plenty of possession but struggled to turn it into meaningful attacking opportunities. They found it difficult to break down a disciplined defensive setup, move the ball quickly, and create the kind of clear-cut chances needed to win the game.

The game, on a large scale of things, reflected the team’s current inconsistent form—a vulnerability Alonso had vowed to address.

“With three wins and two defeats, it should have been better. We want to be more consistent, and we want to finish off games. For sure it is up and down, and we still miss that consistency, which is needed in the Premier League,” he added.

His remarks come after he vowed in a past interview to fix the same problem. Alonso’s team had kicked off brightly before slackening off.

The team’s quest for solid results and wins has been equally impeded, with injured first-team regulars leaving them devoid of their usual firepower—despite the London club making over 10 summer arrivals in preparation for the demands of the new season.

Speaking in an interview with Stan Sport on Thursday, October 8, 2026, the Spaniard had addressed the mounting pressure regarding his team’s defensive record after the side failed to keep a clean sheet in their opening Premier League matches.

Fifth position

“I have the feeling that it will get better, but at the moment, it’s just not been good enough,” Alonso posited. “It is something we want to improve. It is not just the defence; it is the attack as well, and the way we attack helps the way we defend. Many parts are still in development.

Now ranked fifth after ten games, Chelsea now faces a defining run: find the patience, creativity, and consistency that the gaffer is demanding, or watch their title challenge slip away further.