Gary Neville has said Chelsea’s back three look ‘a little bit all over the place’ at the moment but has backed Xabi Alonso to get it right.
Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday. The West Londoners have taken six points from three Premier League games, but have looked vulnerable defensively. Alonso’s side have conceded seven goals so far this season, the second-highest in the division and as many as 19th-placed Fulham.
Chelsea’s defensive issues come as Alonso adapts his new side to a formation with three central defenders. Speaking to the Gary Neville Podcast for Sky Sports, Neville said the Spaniard must address the teething issues he is having.
“The back three, when I watch them, it’s almost like their legs aren’t connected to their hips and the hips aren’t connected to their bodies. It’s almost like they’re a bit all over the place.
“I look at the sort of best back three probably that I ever saw which was the Juventus and Italy back three with Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonnuci and Giorgio Chiellini – three real giants.
“They worked together as a three, they knew how to position themselves, they were great in the air, they knew how to push up and when to drop deeper. They organised the people in front of them.
“Maybe Chelsea will need to actually recruit more players as they move on through the next year or two with Xabi Alonso. He’s done a lot already. He’s just needs to get a back three that feels solid. They don’t look solid, they look like they’re a little bit all over the place. So that that’s the main thing right now.”
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