Caicedo, Palestra and Henderson could all return this week
Chelsea are hoping for a triple injury boost, with Moises Caicedo, Marco Palestra and Jordan Henderson all in line to come back (1). That matters now, with the midfield stretched. Chelsea sit 5th on 7 points after four games, and Friday's trip to Brentford comes three days after the Hull draw.
Palestra's timing is awkward. He came on in the second half against Hull and the back line still conceded twice.
Alonso called his own team soft
Chelsea 2–2 Hull City at Stamford Bridge, two points dropped after leading. Xabi Alonso did not hide from it. "It was too soft to give them this hope because until then we were controlling, we were creating chances," he said (5).
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He added that the change in momentum "changed the mood and the score of the game" and that it is "having an impact on our performances at the moment" (5). Your team is 5th with a W W L D start. The Brighton and Fulham wins showed what this side can do. The Hull game showed the other thing.
The Hato substitution was tactical, says Alonso
Jorrel Hato was taken off at half-time against Hull, right after Chelsea were let down by poor defending for the goal (4). Alonso said it was not a punishment: "We wanted a player with another profile, that with Pep [Chavarria] and Jorrel, it's different and that was the decision" (4).
So Pep Chavarria came on for the second half instead of Hato.
Chelsea want Manu Kone in January
Chelsea are preparing to go back in for Roma midfielder Manu Kone when the January window opens, after a €60m summer bid failed (2). Liverpool are now watching him too (2).
Enzo Fernandez left for Manchester City in the summer, and the midfield has been short since.
Raphinha on doubled wages
Chelsea and Arsenal are both reportedly ready to double Raphinha's Barcelona salary to get him in January (10). Nothing agreed. Just interest, and a big number attached to it.
Eva Olid sticks to her plan after Manchester United's 5–0 loss
Chelsea 5–0 Manchester United in the WSL. Eva Olid, the Manchester United manager, said she will keep playing her way despite the scoreline, and called it part of building (6). Five goals at your place. That is the kind of afternoon that settles a title race early.
Brentford away is Friday
Chelsea travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford on Friday 18 September, 8pm BST kick-off (9). Three days after the Hull draw. Ninth-placed or not, this is the fixture where Alonso's side either answers the criticism or invites more of it.
Enzo Fernandez is thriving at Manchester City
Enzo Fernandez played in the Manchester derby and did the work of two midfielders after Phil Foden's red card, with Manchester City winning (8)(11). Will Unwin wrote that Fernandez's fortitude shows Enzo Maresca was right to want him at City after the £125m move from Chelsea (8). That is the sale Chelsea fans keep replaying.
Fan reactions
The sub is split between old and new business. Édouard Mendy's international retirement announcement drew a warm round of tributes and nostalgia, while others spent the weekend watching United lose to City in the rival watch thread. The other big thread was less about Chelsea and more about the referees and VAR in the weekend's big games.
