Chelsea have had time to stew on it. Dropped points against Hull, more frustration after the defeat to Arsenal, and now a Friday night trip across west London where excuses will carry little weight. Brentford have started well, they are organised, and they will test a Chelsea side still trying to smooth out the rough edges.
The problem for Xabi Alonso is straightforward. His team have shown enough to suggest quality, but not enough to suggest control. In both the Arsenal game and the 2-2 draw with Hull, Chelsea went ahead and still failed to manage the contest properly. That is what will bother Alonso more than the scoreline itself.
Selection will matter at the Gtech Community Stadium, and so will availability. Chelsea have several players in the grey area between hopeful and fit, which is rarely where a coach wants to be before a derby.
Below is the latest on the key absentees and doubts before Brentford.
Moises Caicedo remains the key Chelsea injury concern
If there is one name that shapes the conversation, it is Moises Caicedo. Chelsea need security in midfield, particularly against a Brentford side that thrive on transitions, duels and set patterns. Caicedo returned to the squad against Brighton after missing the opening win over Fulham and the Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town, but lasted only 14 minutes before limping off.
He has not appeared since, missing matches against Arsenal, Leeds and Hull. Alonso has already made clear that caution is guiding the decision. “Let’s see for Brentford, but unluckily not at the moment to take risks with him,” Alonso said before the Hull draw. “Not yet, we are not there yet.”
That sounds like a manager trying to avoid a relapse rather than forcing a return. Chelsea can cope without him in patches. Over 90 minutes, away from home, against unbeaten opponents, that becomes a different calculation.
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