Xabi Alonso has admitted Chelsea may have brought Moises Caicedo back too early after the midfielder missed Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal.
Caicedo was absent from Chelsea’s squad at the Emirates Stadium after suffering another fitness setback against Brighton last weekend.
Alonso has now provided an encouraging update on the midfielder’s condition, but conceded Chelsea may have taken an unnecessary risk with his previous return.
Alonso gives new Moises Caicedo injury update
Caicedo was the major omission when Chelsea’s starting XI against Arsenal was confirmed.
The Ecuador international did not even make the bench, forcing Reece James to partner Romeo Lavia in central midfield.
Asked after the defeat whether Caicedo could be facing a long-term problem, Alonso dismissed those fears.
“No, not longer term, but it’s about assessing the risk. Probably last week we took him too early and I don’t want to make the same mistake again.”
The comments, published in football.london’s full transcript of Alonso’s press conference, suggest Chelsea deliberately took a more cautious approach at Arsenal.
That is significant after Caicedo’s brief appearance against Brighton.
ReadChelsea previously covered the concern surrounding Caicedo before the Arsenal game, but Alonso’s latest comments make clear Chelsea do not believe this is a long-term injury.
Chelsea need Caicedo back
His importance was underlined at the Emirates.
Chelsea made an excellent start through Morgan Rogers but increasingly struggled to control Arsenal after taking the lead.
Our Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea match report details how the hosts recovered through Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard.
Alonso refused to blame the defeat on Caicedo’s absence.
He nevertheless acknowledged Chelsea are a better side when both Caicedo and Levi Colwill are available.
The encouraging news is that Chelsea do not appear to be dealing with a lengthy absence.
The question now is whether Wednesday’s Carabao Cup meeting with Leeds will come too soon.
