Chelsea’s title hopes questioned as Xabi Alonso faces growing pressure after Spurs loss

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso is facing increased criticism after his side suffered a surprise 2-0 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday in the eighth round of the Premier League.

Kieran Gill, a journalist for the British newspaper Daily Mail, said Alonso must accept significant responsibility for the result, arguing that Chelsea’s cautious tactical approach lacked initiative and invention.

Gill said Chelsea’s display raised doubts about their ability to compete for the Premier League title unless they develop greater character in important matches. The London side never looked close to winning, despite their strong record against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham’s victory was only their second in their last 34 Premier League visits to Chelsea’s ground, highlighting the significance of the result.

According to Gill, Chelsea’s limited possession and ineffective passing contributed to a disappointing performance and further weakened Alonso’s standing with the club’s supporters.

The journalist also criticised Cole Palmer’s dismissal after the Chelsea player received a second yellow card. Gill felt the incident revived concerns about the disciplinary problems Chelsea experienced last season.

Chelsea’s attacking options were also questioned following the absence of Joao Pedro through injury. Gill suggested Alonso’s handling of that absence had raised concerns about the depth of the squad and the alternatives available in attack, particularly because Giovani Quenda failed to make the expected impact.

Nicolas Jackson’s form for Aston Villa added to the scrutiny. Jackson scored twice against Manchester City, and Gill said his performances had underlined Chelsea’s lack of an attacking substitute capable of covering for injured or unavailable players.

Chelsea’s defending from set-pieces was another area of concern. Tottenham scored their opening goal from a corner after young goalkeeper Mike Penders failed to deal with the delivery, although he had made several saves during the match.

Gill acknowledged Penders remains vulnerable to mistakes but said the goalkeeper needs support until Emiliano Martinez returns.

The article also focused on Chelsea’s continuing defensive problems, with the team struggling to contain Tottenham forward Mathys Tel, who scored the second goal.

Gill concluded that Alonso is dealing with issues that extend beyond his tactical plans. However, he argued that those wider challenges do not remove the manager’s responsibility to produce a stronger and more effective performance.