Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-0 and did what they had to do. The performance was mixed, the first half was flat, and the game only opened up after the break. Morgan Rogers changed it with a sharp solo goal, Cole Palmer returned from suspension and converted a penalty, and Xabi Alonso got the response he needed after a difficult run.
Now the focus shifts to Sunderland, where Chelsea have a clear chance to build momentum against the side currently rooted to the bottom of the Premier League. The bigger issue is availability. Chelsea’s squad still has several important names either out, doubtful or working towards a return, and the next few weeks will tell us plenty about how much depth this side really has.
There is no need to dress it up. Some of these injuries are manageable. A couple are more serious. Here is where Chelsea stand before the trip north.
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Joao Pedro remains Chelsea’s biggest concern
The most important absence is still Joao Pedro. He missed the recent defeat to Tottenham after picking up a thigh injury in training, and there is still no firm return date. Given he is Chelsea’s leading scorer and reigning Player of the Season, that matters more than any tactical tweak.
Alonso was direct when asked about him, saying: “He has an injury on his thigh and he’s going be out for a few weeks. Let’s see how many. We don’t want to predict on that. But not ready for the next games.
“He’s a key player. We will miss him, but we have to be ready to deal with the injury, and be competitive and try and win with the players we have available. This is the situation.”
That is the correct approach. Chelsea cannot rush him, especially after his recent knee issue also required specialist input. The target looks to be a return after the November international break, with Leeds at home a realistic point. Until then, Chelsea have to find goals elsewhere.
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