Chelsea legend Gustavo Poyet believes a strong defense is essential to the team winning trophies again.
The Blues are hoping to finish in the top four this season and mount a title challenge next term.
But their inconsistency and inability to keep clean sheets is going to make that very difficult, according to Poyet.
He spoke after the team's 3-0 loss to Sheffield United.
Speaking to Stadium Astro about management styles and Chelsea's current form, Poyet said: "We are all different, that's the good thing about football, we all train in a different way, we all think in a different away.
"For example, myself, even if I like my team to treat the football very well, and pay attention and create attacks, I start my team from the back.
"I make sure that first we are organised, we are tight, we make it difficult for the opposition, we care about not conceding, like our goal is our house, they cannot get in there.
"Sometimes we try to split, he's an offensive manager, he's a defensive manager, and there's nothing in between, but there is. The best teams in the world defend very well and attack very well.
"It's having the right balance and that's what I want to see from Chelsea next year – a better balance in their play. More practical sometimes, win 1-0, why not?
"The best teams in the world win leagues winning 1-0 when they are not having a good day. [Sheffield United] was a day for Chelsea to say, 'we're not having a good day, let's make sure we're solid, we've got enough players to score a goal and we win 1-0'."