Chelsea don start dia Premier League campaign with 3-2 win over Fulham for Craven Cottage, but one question wey many fans dey ask na why two key players no dey for di matchday squad.
New Blues manager Xabi Alonso, wey dey handle im first competitive game as Chelsea boss, don explain say Marco Palestra and Moises Caicedo get small setbacks during di week, so dem no fit play.
Alonso talk say: ‘Dem get minor setbacks during di week, so dem no fit play tonight. New faces don debut for us, Morgan and Max, and dem go play important roles through di year.’
Di boss also yarn with Sky Sports say: ‘During di week dem get setbacks. With Moi, we no wan take risks. Dem no ready to play tonight. We go week-by-week, but dem no ready for tonight.’
Caicedo, wey be di usual midfield stalwart, bin surprise many wen im name no dey for di teamsheet. But e don show say im exclusion na precautionary, as e bin dey present for di match and no dey limp.
For Palestra, di summer signing wey bin impressing throughout pre-season, im absence na unexpected one. Alonso bin bin expect am to start, but di minor setback mean say im no fit take part.
Despite di absence of dese two, Alonso don field starting XI wey include Robert Sanchez, Josh Acheampong, Maxence Lacroix, Levi Colwill, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Jorrel Hato, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro.
Di new manager don express im excitement about di contest, saying: ‘Everyone dey excited for di building and for di team. E great say after long pre-season we dey where we wan be. First Premier League game and I really happy to dey involved. E go dey emotional for everyone, given say na our first game. E be derby and di excitement of di crowd go dey there. So we need to manage di game.’
For di match, Chelsea bin take di win, but di focus now dey on di next fixtures. Xabi Alonso go hope say Caicedo and Palestra fit return for di Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town on Thursday, or di Premier League match against Brighton for di weekend.
Di injury update no stop for dem two. Jordan Henderson dey sideline with broken wrist, while Emmanuel Emegha and Aaron Anselmino dey recover from hamstring injuries. Mamadou Sarr also get injury for pre-season, and reports say e go go on loan to Real Sociedad.
