Xabi Alonso Rules Out Caicedo and Palestra for Carabao Cup Clash

Xabi Alonso has ruled Moises Caicedo and Marco Palestra out of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town on Wednesday – but insists Enzo Fernandez will be involved despite the noise around his future.

The Chelsea head coach confirmed both Caicedo and Palestra will sit out the third-round clash, trimming his midfield options for the midweek cup assignment.

“Both not for tomorrow,” Alonso said. “Hopefully Moi can make it for the weekend. Maybe we need to check a little bit more with Marco.”

Caicedo is targeting a return in time for the weekend’s league fixture, while Palestra’s situation is less clear, with medical staff needing more time before a realistic timescale can be set.

The absences arrive at a delicate moment, with Fernandez again at the centre of transfer speculation. Manchester City are expected to test Chelsea’s resolve over the Argentina international, but Alonso made it clear he plans around the midfielder as normal.

“Yes, so we expect that he’s involved, he’s trained, he’s training really well, he’s a good professional and he will be involved,” Alonso said, underlining Fernandez’s attitude amid the uncertainty.

Asked directly if he wants Fernandez to stay at Stamford Bridge, Alonso did not hesitate.

“We want to have the best team possible. We know his qualities, he has shown it and we have to wait, but we will think about tomorrow and let’s see how things develop.”

Injuries, speculation, and a cup tie that Chelsea cannot afford to treat lightly – Alonso knows the picture could look very different by the weekend, but for now his focus is clear: navigate Luton without Caicedo and Palestra, and keep Fernandez at the heart of it all.