![\"Xabi](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/0_Xabi-Alonso.jpg\")
<\/p>\nChelsea suffered defeat to a Championship side in a friendly this weekend but the focus of Xabi Alonso was on three objectives being fulfilled<\/p>\n
Xabi Alonso watched his Chelsea side lose to Portsmouth on Saturday at Cobham(Image: (Photo by Darren Walsh\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images))<\/p>\n
Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by Portsmouth in a behind-closed-doors friendly as their preparations ramp up for the return of domestic football. Xabi Alonso’s side took on the Championship club on Saturday at Cobham, with it mainly viewed as a training exercise for the Blues.<\/p>\n
A number of senior players are away on international duty, which saw a step up in recovery for several injured players and tactical work as the main aims from the friendly, with the result not the focus, and should therefore not be viewed in the same way as a competitive fixture.<\/p>\n
It also allowed some young stars to play alongside first-teamers with the emphasis firmly on player development. Alonso has already shown his intent to deploy teenagers in games if needed.<\/p>\n
He said last month: “Yeah, with [it] 2-0 [to Brentford] we brought Madhi [Nicoll-Jazuli]<\/a>, that he has great energy, that at the moment in the middle we were short of numbers. The other ones are Geo [Quenda] and Estevao.<\/p>\n “Yeah, because they have been trained well, they are part of the squad, so everyone that is part of the squad but before we were playing for 75 minutes with a squad with experience and that we have had good things but not for long enough time to compete for the better result.”<\/p>\n FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n Another aim of the three-week break for Alonso would have likely been trying to improve Chelsea’s defensive record, having conceded 12 goals, the most of any team in the Premier League this season. They have let in at least two goals in every league game and also conceded three to Leeds United in the Carabao Cup.<\/p>\n The absence of Moises Caicedo has not helped Chelsea’s solidity, with the midfielder joined by Cole Palmer, Reece James and Marco Palestra in having had an injury issue so far this season, with it likely, but not fully known, that the quartet featured in some capacity over the weekend.<\/p>\n Joao Pedro withdrew from the Brazil squad prior to Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Brentford because of a knee problem. The forward is understood to have been seeing a specialist over the extended international break.<\/a><\/p>\n Chelsea striker Joao Pedro is dealing with a knee injury<\/p>\n Several Chelsea stars have been away representing their nations over the last few weeks, with Jamie Gittens as one of those. He suffered an issue while playing for England’s under-21s, however, which left him on crutches to leave the stadium.<\/a><\/p>\n It has been a mixed start for Alonso at Stamford Bridge, with wins over Fulham and Brighton coming before defeats to Arsenal and Brentford, with a draw at home to Hull City between them.<\/p>\n![\"Chelsea](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/0_GettyImages-2295103465-1.jpg\")
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