LONDON — You could forgive Chelsea‘s new outright owners for casting an envious glance at Brentford on Friday evening.
Chelsea might have fresh clarity at the helm of the club and a much-admired manager, Xabi Alonso, in charge, but familiar issues remain. Brentford’s 3-0 victory meant Chelsea’s era of full Clearlake Capital control started with a humbling reminder of what a club with a settled identity looks like.
Chelsea remain in a state of flux, but it wasn’t meant to be like this again. Their investment in the summer was meant to build a spine: midfielder Jordan Henderson and striker Danny Welbeck were there to bring solidity and experience. The signings were in Alonso’s image. But this defeat was a carbon copy of last season’s Chelsea: a limp effort from a side that teeters on the abyss of mid-match capitulation.
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Chelsea’s attack has been impressive this season, but without João Pedro up front, the previously deadly triumvirate of Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer missed their point person as striker Danny Welbeck was unable to click with the duo. Instead, what we saw from Chelsea was an organized performance for about 70 minutes, Henderson and Valentín Barco bringing some stability in front of the back four.
The match was even at that juncture, chances at a premium. But once the substitutions came and the legs tired, Brentford were ready to pounce. Muscle memory clicked in. They remained resolute at the back, patient in attack, completely comfortable in their own skin and with full clarity over who they are as a club both on and off the pitch.
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All of Brentford’s three goals will make ugly viewing for Chelsea. The hosts’ first goal was from a corner — a ball from Mikkel Damsgaard, a header back across the box from Jannik Schuster to Jaidon Anthony, who was unmarked at the far post to nod home. Their second was from a counterattack — Chelsea were left empty at the back, Kevin Schade darted away and after his shot was well-saved, and Igor Thiago acrobatically converted the rebound home. And then came the final one, as Fábio Carvalho finished at the far post unmarked. Brentford coach Keith Andrews jumped into his assistants’ arms and looked to the sky, as those in red and white chanted how they’d love to play Chelsea every week.
Brentford seems to be one of the happiest places on football’s earth. They were unbeaten heading into Friday’s match with a win and three draws. Frustrated sporting directors must look their way after another successful summer transfer window where much-admired midfielder Mamadou Sangare was brought over from Lens, and several other players were nurtured and improved here.
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While Alonso was fielding pre-match questions on injuries and ownership changes, Andrews’ pre-match news conference was more of a celebration: Schade and Vitaly Janelt had been called up by Jurgen Klopp to his 44-man Germany squad, and Nathan Collins’ had made a £1,000 donation to Brentford supporters’ group TW8 Casuals to help fund supporters’ flags and general matchday displays.
“I love this place. I say to the players all the time that we don’t realize how lucky we are,” Andrews said. “We have a sign above the boot room that says exactly that; how lucky are we to be at an amazing place and be part of a special, special group.”
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As the Chelsea ownership look to the future, perhaps they should take a leaf out of Brentford’s book. Since securing promotion to the Premier League in 2021, Brentford have barely missed a beat. Star players have been picked off by other teams, but still they trust in their wonderful recruitment to find ready-made replacements. No Bryan Mbeumo? No problem.
The same goes for their manager. There were doomsayers predicting Brentford would finally capitulate when Thomas Frank left last year and they promoted set piece coach Andrews to the top job. But the people inside Brentford are far cleverer than most in sport (and life, probably). As players nurtured and established in this corner of west London leave for Champions League football, the club just keeps on turning, integrating replacements already there within their ranks, or tempting an outstanding talent such as Sangare to the Gtech Community Stadium.
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While the supporters waved their new flags, and whipped up this little part of London into a red-and-white fervor, they knew exactly what they were going to watch from their Brentford team. Sure, results are unpredictable and you can have the odd horror show. But fundamentally, this place is built on sturdy ground.
Chelsea remain unpredictable, still finding out exactly who they are and what they want to be under Alonso. He will come good, but if things continue to fluctuate at Stamford Bridge, keep Brentford in mind. Sometimes investing in what you have, with a clear identity, produces the goods.
