Chelsea have a midfield problem, and it is not hard to see why. Moises Caicedo missed the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal after failing a late fitness test, leaving Xabi Alonso without his main ball-winner in a game that demanded control, aggression and legs in central areas. He had none of it for long enough, and Chelsea paid for that.
Caicedo’s start to the season has been messy. The Ecuador international sat out Chelsea’s first two league matches, then returned against Brighton only to last 14 minutes before being withdrawn. That tells you plenty. The issue is not catastrophic, but it is persistent, and those are often the injuries that frustrate coaches most because they tempt you into rushing players back.
Alonso admitted as much after the Arsenal game. “Not long-term, but we talk about assessing the risk. Probably last week [against Brighton], we took him too early, and I don’t want to make the same mistake.” That is the sensible approach, even if it leaves Chelsea short in the immediate term.
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Moises Caicedo Facing Leeds Race
The next question is simple, will Caicedo be fit for Leeds in the Carabao Cup? Right now, it looks unlikely. Chelsea need to think beyond one awkward midweek tie. If the midfielder was pushed too soon once already, doing it again would be poor management. The more realistic target appears to be the home game against Hull City on September 12.
That would at least give Chelsea a clearer route back for a player they badly need. Caicedo gives them defensive bite, recovery speed and structure. Without him, the midfield can look far too open.
Marco Palestra Still Waiting for Debut
Marco Palestra remains another unresolved case. The summer signing was heavily involved in pre-season, which suggested he would have a role early in the campaign. Instead, he has missed all four competitive matches so far.
The issue is believed to be a training ground knock, and there has been very little detail from Chelsea beyond that. Palestra did…
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