Moises Caicedo and Marco Palestra missed out on Chelsea's first Premier League of the season through injury
Xabi Alonso confirmed two fresh injury problems for Chelsea.
Xabi Alonso confirmed two fresh injury problems for Chelsea.(Image: Sky Sports)
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Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says setbacks forced Moises Caicedo and Marco Palestra to miss the Premier League opener against Fulham.
The Spaniard was left without the key midfielder and summer arrival for the trip across West London as Romeo Lavia and Reece James deputised in midfield with Malo Gusto and Josh Acheampong occupying right-sided defensive positions.
Caicedo played in three pre-season friendlies for Chelsea, including his standout display against AC Milan where he scored and assisted in a 3-0 win. However, in the build-up to the curtain-raiser at Craven Cottage, the Ecuadorian suffered a minor injury forcing him out of the opener.
The setback raised uncertainty over his involvement for the forthcoming matches against Luton Town in the Carabao Cup on Thursday and Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Palestra, who arrived from Atalanta this summer, had been involved in three of the five matches in preparation but will be forced to wait for his competitive bow for the Blues.
Alonso said: "During the week they had a few setbacks.
"With Moi - and with any [player] - we don't want to take too much risk. They weren't ready to play tonight. We need to go week-by-week but for tonight they were not ready."
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In the opposition dugout on Monday night was Alonso's former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Spain teammate Alvaro Arbeloa. The two were making their Premier League debuts on the touchline, with Arbeloa succeeding Alonso after his dismissal at the turn of the year.
There was no Enzo Fernandez in the starting 11 for Chelsea but Arbeloa refused to be drawn on whether he was surprised by his opposite numbers selection decision.
He said: "You'll have to ask Xabi! I think maybe they have some injured or some problems. I will ask him later.
"We expected another XI for starting, for sure."
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