Premier League: Alonso blames Colwill for Chelsea defeat
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Daily Post
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso blamed defender Levi Colwill for the penalty awarded to Sunderland and converted by Enzo Le Fee in the Blues' 1-0 Premier League defeat. According to Alonso, quoted by Sky Sports, Chelsea should have had a penalty for a foul on Cole Palmer, but VAR judged the contact had taken place outside the box.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso blamed his team's Premier League defeat to Sunderland on Levi Colwill's defensive responsibility for the penalty that decided the match on Sunday 8 November 2026. "The other action, I think it's a situation where he can defend better," the Spaniard told Sky Sports after the match, about the contact between the English defender and striker Brian Brobbey just before half-time.
Referee Gillet awarded the penalty despite the impression that Brobbey had grabbed Colwill by the collar before going down, and the video assistant did not consider it useful to recommend a review of the decision. Enzo Le Fee converted the spot-kick to give Sunderland the lead. Chelsea had earlier claimed a penalty for a Cole Palmer fall in the box, but video referees Nicholas Hopton and Wade Smith judged that the contact had taken place outside the area.
Alonso also acknowledged his team's difficulties against Sunderland's low block: "That's our mistake. We lacked a bit of speed in our circulation, a bit of patience. We didn't create enough chances, we didn't have enough patience or creativity." He also said he had not watched the Cole Palmer incident again, while admitting that a penalty could have been awarded.
