<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/our-special-strikers-were-a-threat-and-combined-well-chelsea-head-coach-xabi-alonso-23646676" rel="nofollow">Xabi Alonso</a> was not pleased with his side&rsquo;s defensive frailties despite eventually beating Leeds United 6-3 in the EFL Cup here on Wednesday.
The Blues were in danger of crashing out following Tarik Muharemovic&rsquo;s opener and a Brenden Aaronson goal soon after the interval.&nbsp;
<img title="Chelsea&rsquo;s Valentin Barco is ecstatic after scoring vs Leeds United on Wednesday. Pic/AFP" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/sep/BarcoSept-a_e.jpg" alt="Chelsea&rsquo;s Valentin Barco is ecstatic after scoring vs Leeds United on Wednesday. Pic/AFP" width="1280" height="720" />Chelsea&rsquo;s Valentin Barco is ecstatic after scoring vs Leeds United on Wednesday. Pic/AFP
But Alonso sent on Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Pedro Neto and Reece James at half-time and the decision inspired Chelsea&rsquo;s stirring escape act. Palmer struck twice to haul Chelsea level and Neto put them ahead before Welbeck made it four. Dominic Calvert-Lewin got one back for Leeds, but Valentin Barco and Welbeck netted to ensure Chelsea moved into the fourth round in style.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The impact was good from the players that came on. But we want to have better balance, to be more solid, to be able to win in a boring game as well,&rdquo; said Alonso.
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The Blues were in danger of crashing out following Tarik Muharemovic’s opener and a Brenden Aaronson goal soon after the interval.

‘Subs made an impact, but need to defend better’ Xabi Alonso

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‘Subs made an impact, but need to defend better’ Xabi Alonso

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