Chelsea are the first team to reach the 2025/26 EFL Cup semi-finals, after a second-half 3-1 surge overcame League One leaders Cardiff City on Tuesday.
A few noteworthy issues arose for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers.
ESTEVAO TO MISS GAMEWEEK 17
FPL pre-season: “Fantastic” Estevao, Pedro goal + Kelleher injury
The Blues’ starting XI was completely different to last Saturday’s against Everton, with Enzo Maresca making 11 changes. This could have meant Estevao (£6.5m) minutes, had the wonderkid not picked up an injury that will keep him out of the weekend trip to Newcastle United.
“He had a small problem, a muscle problem. He won’t be available for Newcastle, and we’ll see for the next one.” – Enzo Maresca on Estevao, post-match
This should secure Pedro Neto‘s (£7.3m) place in the St James’ Park lineup.
POOR GUIU AUDITION
FPL new signings: Is Marc Guiu now the best £4.5m forward?
As for Marc Guiu (£4.2m), the cheap striker of choice for most Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.8m) and Nick Woltemade (£7.4m) sellers, this rare start was a bad display. When he could have laid down a marker for more game-time in the absence of Liam Delap (£6.2m), he flopped.
All first-half service could be described as generally poor, mind, especially from Jamie Gittens (£6.1m).
The Spaniard’s 31st-minute shot on target was his sole penalty area touch, stopped at the near-post by Nathan Trott.
“Off the ball, we were quite good, on the ball, we struggled a bit to create chances [in the first half] for many reasons. Second half we were much better on the ball.
“It was a big difference between the first half and second half, the way we attacked also. Cardiff were very organised and intense. In the end, we did enough to win the game.” – Enzo Maresca, speaking to Sky Sports
However, it was another game where Maresca’s wholesale changes weren’t quite going to plan. So he hauled off Guiu and Tyrique George (£4.8m) at half-time for Alejandro Garnacho (£6.4m) and Joao Pedro (£7.3m).
This worked superbly. Garnacho missed all three big chances versus Everton and soon had another here, but went on to net twice.
The first came from a defensive error that Facundo Buonanotte (£4.6m) pounced upon, while centre-forward Pedro assisted his stoppage-time clincher and also held up the ball for fellow sub Neto’s goal, soon after David Turnbull headed in a 75th-minute equaliser.
The least-owned of FPL’s eight highest-scoring midfielders, Neto has accumulated four goals and three assists from his latest nine league outings.
FPL news: Estevao hurt + how did Guiu do?
Above: FPL player points from Gameweek 8 onwards
ENZO, PALMER + JAMES RESTS, CAICEDO RETURNS
Still, some key Chelsea stars were able to get a full breather. Enzo Fernandez (£6.6m), Reece James (£5.6m) and Robert Sanchez (£4.9m) were unused substitutes, whereas Marc Cucurella (£6.2m) found himself suspended for two previous EFL Cup yellow cards, and Cole Palmer‘s (£10.3m) minutes are being carefully managed.
After a three-match domestic ban, Moises Caicedo (£5.7m) played all 90 minutes but was booked again for sarcastically applauding the referee. He’ll therefore miss the semi-final first leg, held between Gameweeks 21 and 22.
Caicedo’s return is a significant one for owners of James, who has been playing in midfield recently. Is it now a straight choice between the England international and the in-form Malo Gusto (£4.9m)?
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