Since returning from the international break, Chelsea have really improved defensively.

On Saturday, they kept their first clean sheet in the Premier League in nine months after beating Everton 2-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Before that, the Blues only conceded one goal in their 5-1 win over Bournemouth.

Before the international break, Chelsea had been conceding far too many goals, but it looks like Xabi Alonso has fixed that problem. The return of Moises Caicedo has definitely helped.

However, it is not the only area where Chelsea have shown improvement under Alonso.

Pedro Neto has been hailed as an 'unsung hero' for Chelsea. Who else in Xabi Alonso's team is UNDERRATED?!

Xabi Alonso has solved Chelsea’s disciplinary issue

Last season, Chelsea had a horrific disciplinary record. They received eight red cards in the Premier League, four more than the next highest team.

Chelsea were also second for yellow cards after being cautioned 90 times. Only London rivals Tottenham Hotspur picked up more (99).

This term, though, there has been a complete turnaround. Under Alonso, Chelsea are yet to receive a red card in the Premier League. This time last season, they had already picked up two after Robert Sanchez’s sending off against Manchester United and Trevoh Chalobah’s versus Brighton & Hove Albion.

As per WhoScored, Chelsea are only 10th for yellow cards this season after receiving 13. Their ill-discipline was such a huge talking point in the previous campaign that it is a surprise that no one is discussing the improvement they have shown following Alonso’s arrival.

The main focus has been on their awesome attack and leaky defence. Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers have been stealing the headlines, but none of the trio scored at the weekend, and the defence actually stepped up.

It was a bit of a twist, but a good one, as Chelsea have needed to prove that they can also win in a less exciting way. It is what title contenders are able to do, win ugly when necessary, and the Blues sort of did that at the Hill Dickinson.

That is not to say that Alonso’s men are now all of a sudden in the title race, but such performances bode well for their future.