Xabi Alonso admits mistake as Chelsea welcome back Caicedo but lose Gittens
Moises Caicedo is set to return for Chelsea against Bournemouth, while Jamie Gittens faces several weeks on the sidelines due to an ankle injury.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Ank kumar
Ahead of Saturday's clash against Bournemouth, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has provided a crucial update on his squad. Influential midfielder Moises Caicedo has completed his recovery from muscular issues and is ready to return to the starting lineup.
Alonso candidly admitted that rushing the player back into action previously was a tactical error, and he took responsibility for not managing the midfielder's fitness more carefully during earlier fixtures.
We did not want to take risks for Brentford because we did against Brighton, I did myself and I said 'Xabi you did it wrong'. Now he feels much better. Xabi Alonso
However, the international break brought bad news for the Blues, with winger Jamie Gittens picking up an ankle injury. The manager confirmed that the player will be unavailable for the upcoming match and will remain sidelined for a few weeks.
With Gittens out, Alonso suggested that other members of the squad could step up. He specifically highlighted the development of academy defender Josh Acheampong and Brazilian winger Estevao Willian, noting that both are increasingly prepared for the demands of the Premier League.