HARIANEXPRESS, LONDON – Pelatih Chelsea Xabi Alonso mengonfirmasi ketersediaan Moises Caicedo, Reece James, Marco Palestra, Cole Palmer, dan Joao Pedro menjelang laga melawan Bournemouth. (08/10/2026)
Kondisi para pemain tersebut membaik setelah menjalani pemulihan selama jeda internasional tiga minggu. Caicedo yang baru tampil sekali musim ini telah kembali berlatih penuh dan siap diturunkan.
“Yes, he is ready to go,” ujar Xabi Alonso (Pelatih Chelsea) di London, 08/10/2026.
Palmer, James, dan Joao Pedro sebelumnya terpaksa mundur dari panggilan tim nasional masing-masing akibat masalah kebugaran. Namun, ketiganya kini sudah kembali berlatih bersama skuad utama di Cobham.
“They have all been able to train, some of them earlier than others – and Marco Palestra as well. That was the plan. We knew that going into Brentford we had some players struggling but they have trained well and are ready to go.” ujar Xabi Alonso (Pelatih Chelsea) di London, 08/10/2026.
Alonso juga menjelaskan bahwa Palmer sempat mengalami kesulitan kebugaran saat menghadapi Brentford sebelum jeda internasional. Pemain berusia 24 tahun itu kini merasa jauh lebih baik setelah menjalani latihan khusus.
“He has trained the last week and has felt better. We didn’t want to rush because we had the time. What is most important for Cole is to be fully fit and that he enjoys his game and is feeling okay. In the Brentford game, we could see he was struggling and for the next part [of the season] we have a good feeling for him and that he is feeling better.” ujar Xabi Alonso (Pelatih Chelsea) di London, 08/10/2026.
Di sisi lain, Jamie Gittens dipastikan absen dalam beberapa pekan ke depan akibat cedera pergelangan kaki. Winger tersebut mengalami cedera saat membela tim nasional Inggris U-21.
“He is not going to be fit for tomorrow; that is the bad news from the international break. He picked up an injury on his ankle and is going to be out for a few weeks.” ujar Xabi Alonso (Pelatih Chelsea) di London, 08/10/2026.
Sementara itu, keputusasaan Palmer mundur dari skuad timnas Inggris mendapat sorotan dari pelatih Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel menilai absennya Palmer dalam pemusatan latihan menjadi kesempatan yang terbuang.
“It is a missed opportunity. He misses too many opportunities,” ujar Thomas Tuchel (Pelatih Timnas Inggris) kepada Goal.com, 08/10/2026.
“I don’t blame him for it. It is just a fact. He misses way too many camps with injuries, and I only want to rely on what I witness and see within my team, and for that you have to be in camp,” ujar Thomas Tuchel (Pelatih Timnas Inggris) kepada Goal.com, 08/10/2026.
“If you’re not in camp, there is a next level to impress that you cannot achieve because you can only do it when you are actually on the pitch with me,” ujar Thomas Tuchel (Pelatih Timnas Inggris) kepada Goal.com, 08/10/2026.
“So yes, it is a missed opportunity.” ujar Thomas Tuchel (Pelatih Timnas Inggris) kepada Goal.com, 08/10/2026.
Chelsea saat ini menduduki posisi ke-10 klasemen sementara Premier League dengan perolehan tujuh poin dari lima laga awal. Kemenangan atas Bournemouth di Stamford Bridge menjadi target penting untuk memperbaiki posisi mereka.
