🚨🔵 𝗡𝗘𝗪: In the opening five league games under MacPhee, there have been flashes of the creative attacking routines that distinguished his best work at Villa. Chelsea’s four set-piece goals scored are the joint-most in the Premier League, albeit it is very early in the season.

Defensively, however, the numbers are just as eye-catching: a division-worst five concessions from set pieces, while their expected goals against figure in such situations (three) is only surpassed by Brighton & Hove Albion.

Brentford’s first goal that Friday night was indicative of some of Chelsea’s broader issues when defending at corners.

MacPhee positions all 10 outfield players goal-side of the penalty spot, with his best aerial defenders zonally guarding the six-yard box around goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Brentford station Jaidon Anthony in front of Martinez, while sending their biggest threats to overload the back post, where the 190cm (almost 6ft 3in) Jannik Schuster finds himself matched up with 170cm (5ft 6in) Valentin Barco.

🔗 The Athletic

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