Chelsea’s early-season defensive numbers are raising questions, but perhaps the most concerning aspect is the team’s vulnerability from set pieces.

After conceding 12 goals in their first five Premier League games, four of those goals have come from set-piece situations. That statistic alone should be enough to prompt serious discussion about how Chelsea are defending dead-ball situations.

However, the problem goes beyond simply counting the goals conceded.

There is a bigger concern with the way Chelsea are defending set pieces. At times, the organisation appears uncertain, the communication looks poor and the structure does not inspire confidence. For a team competing at the highest level, those details matter.

Set Pieces Are Supposed to Be a Strength

Chelsea appointed Austin MacPhee with the expectation that he could make a significant contribution to the club’s set-piece strategy.

MacPhee has developed a reputation for his work in this area, particularly in helping teams maximise set-piece opportunities. Naturally, much of the attention surrounding a set-piece coach focuses on what happens in the opposition penalty area.

How can Chelsea create better chances from corners?

How can they become more dangerous from free kicks?

How can they use their physicality and movement to create goals?

Those questions are important. But set-piece coaching cannot be viewed purely through an attacking lens.

Set pieces are also defensive situations.

The same amount of preparation, detail and attention that goes into designing attacking routines should go into defending them. Chelsea need to be able to deal with corners, free kicks and second balls with confidence and consistency.

At the moment, that defensive side of the equation is becoming a concern.

The Goals Are Only Part of the Problem

Conceding four set-piece goals in five Premier League matches is obviously significant.

But focusing only on the goals risks missing what may be the bigger issue.

There have been moments when Chelsea’s defensive structure at set pieces has looked vulnerable even when the opposition has not scored. A team can survive a poorly defended corner on one occasion because an attacker misses a chance, a goalkeeper makes a save or the ball falls kindly.

That does not necessarily mean the underlying defensive process was good.

Good set-piece defending is about organisation before the ball is delivered, clear responsibilities during the delivery and an immediate reaction when the first contact does not go as planned.

Players need to know who they are marking, which areas they are responsible for and what happens when the initial defensive plan breaks down.

Communication is equally important.

One player losing concentration can create space for an opponent. A late reaction can turn a routine delivery into a dangerous chance. A failure to track a runner can leave a free header inside the penalty area.

These are small details, but football matches are frequently decided by small details.

Chelsea Need Greater Organisation

The biggest concern should therefore not simply be the number of goals conceded from set pieces.

It should be whether Chelsea have a defensive system that the players fully understand and execute consistently.

There needs to be clarity.

There needs to be communication.

There needs to be aggression when attacking the ball.

And there needs to be concentration until the danger has completely disappeared.

It is not enough for Chelsea to defend the first ball and then switch off. Set-piece situations often produce rebounds, loose balls and second phases. The defensive work continues after the initial header.

That is where structure and concentration become particularly important.

MacPhee’s Role Will Naturally Come Under Scrutiny

When a club specifically brings in a specialist to improve its set pieces, expectations are going to be high.

That does not mean every set-piece goal conceded can automatically be attributed to the coach. Football is more complicated than that. Individual mistakes, poor execution and decisions made during a match can all contribute.

But the overall defensive trend deserves attention.

If Chelsea are consistently conceding dangerous opportunities from set pieces, then the coaching staff and players have to examine why.

The solution may involve changes to marking responsibilities, positioning, personnel, communication or simply greater discipline in executing the existing system.

Whatever the answer is, Chelsea cannot afford to treat the problem as a minor issue.

Chelsea Must Improve at Both Ends

There is nothing wrong with wanting Chelsea to become more dangerous from set pieces.

In fact, that should be part of the objective.

Set pieces can provide valuable goals over the course of a Premier League season, particularly in matches where open-play chances are difficult to create.

But attacking improvement cannot come at the expense of defensive reliability.

Chelsea need to become a team that opponents fear when defending corners and free kicks — while also becoming a team that opponents do not expect to exploit from those same situations.

That requires balance.

The objective should not simply be to score more set-piece goals. It should be to become consistently effective at both ends of the pitch.

The Defending Has to Improve

Ultimately, four set-piece goals conceded in five Premier League games is a warning sign.

The more worrying part is the evidence of uncertainty in the defensive organisation surrounding those situations.

Chelsea have invested in specialist set-piece coaching, and that should mean improving the complete set-piece operation — attacking and defending.

There is still plenty of time for the team to correct the problem. But the longer the same weaknesses remain visible, the more pressure there will be on the players and coaching staff to find a solution.

Chelsea cannot afford to give Premier League opponents easy opportunities from dead-ball situations.

The attacking routines can improve.

The delivery can improve.

The movement can improve.

But above all, the defending has to improve.