Chelsea suffer double injury blow ahead of Luton clash
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso confirms Moises Caicedo and Marco Palestra will miss the Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town due to injury setbacks.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Ank kumar
Chelsea head into their Carabao Cup fixture against Luton Town with a reduced squad, as head coach Xabi Alonso confirmed that both Moises Caicedo and summer signing Marco Palestra are unavailable for the match.
The duo missed the recent 3-2 Premier League victory over Fulham after sustaining minor issues during training. Alonso emphasized a cautious approach to managing player fitness early in the campaign.
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. Xabi Alonso
Looking ahead, Caicedo is closer to a return and could feature in the upcoming Premier League schedule this weekend. However, Palestra requires further assessment to determine his availability.
Amidst the injury concerns, the club is also managing goalkeeper uncertainty. Backup shot-stopper Mike Penders could receive a start against Luton Town given the recent scrutiny surrounding Robert Sanchez. Meanwhile, Enzo Fernandez is expected to be involved, with Alonso praising the midfielder's professionalism despite ongoing rumors linking him to Manchester City.