Chelsea’s ‘soft’ problem is becoming impossible for Xabi Alonso’s luxury attack to solve

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“It’s just four games but the dynamic in terms of conceding, I don’t like it, and we need to do much better. Open play, set-pieces, long balls – this toughness, this competitive sense, we can do better.”Hull players celebrate after equalising at Stamford Bridge (Getty)Perhaps there was also some confusion mixed into the fans’ outpouring, after a game when Alonso’s team didn’t always make sense.

Hull’s second was not much better. This time his finish took a couple of fortunate deflections, but you couldn’t say Hull deserved any less.Martinez did not have his finest afternoon.

Emiliano Martinez showed some unconvincing moments in Chelsea's goal (Reuters)Another recruit from Aston Villa with improvements to make is Austin MacPhee, Chelsea’s hirsute set-piece coach, who bobbed around the technical area waving his arms and looking generally exasperated with players who apparently weren’t following his instructions, as if somehow that wasn’t his fault. No Premier League team have been involved in as many goals as Chelsea so far this season, but Alonso would much rather Chelsea were not the top flight’s great entertainers.