In a recent friendly, Chelsea were edged 2-1 by London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, conceding the decisive goal in stoppage time at the end of the match. Prior to that, they had conceded four goals against Western Sydney Wanderers. Even though the fixtures are only warm-ups, Alonso fielded a particularly strong backline for the Spurs game, deploying Marco Palestra, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Jorrel Hato.
Tosin Adarabioyo’s form has come under scrutiny after another less convincing showing against Tottenham. Colwill performed well in the London derby and appeared to show no lasting effects from a serious ACL injury suffered not long ago. By contrast, Adarabioyo, 28, came on in the second half and was judged to have made questionable defensive decisions before Richarlison’s goal.
Since the start of last season, Adarabioyo has not impressed Chelsea supporters with his defending in key moments. There is noticeable frustration with how often he backs off and is beaten in one-on-one situations. While the former Fulham man brings height and leadership in the dressing room, his future at the club is uncertain.
Alonso has indicated that he intends to shape the squad with a relatively small group of centre-backs, aiming for four or five in total. With Colwill likely to stay, and new signing Maxence Lacroix recently arriving, as well as Wesley Fofana’s high wage, there may be limited room for additional departures. This situation could leave Adarabioyo fighting for his place at Stamford Bridge.
The latest display reinforces the broader challenge for Chelsea: balancing a compact defensive unit with the need for quality and consistency at the back. Adarabioyo’s position within the squad will depend on how he responds to the competition and whether he can recapture the form expected of a player with Premier League pedigree. As the transfer window progresses, the club will weigh internal options against potential exits to shape a defensive lineup that can translate into results when competitive season action resumes.
