Leeds United boost for Chelsea trip as Xabi Alonso makes honest £115m injury admission
Leeds United head to Stamford Bridge for their Carabao Cup third round clash on Wednesday.
Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso will not ‘make the same mistake’ of rushing Moises Caicedo back from injury ahead of facing Leeds United this week.
Caicedo was not involved in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday due to a knock. The £115million midfielder missed his side’s first two games of the season and a return off the bench against Brighton earlier this month lasted just 14 minutes.
Leeds head to Stamford Bridge for their Carabao Cup third round clash on Wednesday night with Caicedo a major doubt while Levi Colwill was also only fit enough for a place on the bench. Alonso insisted he will not rush the Ecuadorian back again.
“It is not long-term [for Caicedo] but it’s about assessing the risk,” Alonso said. “Probably, last week, we took him too early and I don’t want to make the same mistake again.
“It’s easy after defeats to talk about the players that you are missing. I’m not going to go there, I am happy with the players that we have. For sure, all the managers need to deal with injuries, with suspensions.
“To have all the players available for all the games is impossible. But we need them [Caicedo and Colwill] because they are top players and with them we are a better team.”
Chelsea are short in central midfield following Enzo Fernandez’s move to Manchester City and their failed attempts to replace the Argentinian with Monaco’s Lamine Camara. On Sunday, Reece James partnered Romeo Lavia in the middle.
Leeds’ trip to Stamford Bridge is now just two days away and Alonso will likely have to rotate in key areas. But he insists there are enough options within his squad to find a balance.
“We have different qualities, personalities, like Valentin [Barco],” he added. “He is young but he has come with great energy.
“We have Hendo [Jordan Henderson] - he has the composure, the mentality, he knows what is going on in the game so he is getting closer and closer to playing time. With Romeo [Lavia], Reece [James] as well, even Malo [Gusto] can play, [Reggie] Watson as well, Mahdi [Nicoll-Jazuli] from the academy.”