Chelsea team news from Xabi Alonso’s Friday press conference is mixed ahead of the visit of Tottenham. Defender Malo Gusto is back in contention, but Pep Chavarria and Emmanuel Emegha will miss the game, and Emiliano Martinez is out for a few weeks after jaw surgery.
Stamford Bridge (file photo). Photo: Ank kumar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Chelsea team news: Gusto fit to return
According to the club website, Alonso spoke after training at Cobham and confirmed that Gusto, who missed last weekend’s win at Everton, is fit to return. “Malo is fine,” the manager said. The club describes him as in contention to face Spurs, which is not the same as confirming he will start.
The club says Chelsea go into the game after back-to-back top-flight wins, a 5-1 victory over Bournemouth and then a 2-0 win at Everton. Tottenham recorded their first Premier League win of the season last time out but are winless on the road this season, the club adds.
Chavarria, Emegha and Martinez remain out
Chavarria will not make it. “Pep is training a little bit more, but he is not going to make it,” Alonso said. Emegha will also miss the match. The striker has not yet featured since arriving this summer but is making progress. “He’s feeling better, but we need to wait,” Alonso said.
Martinez will be absent for a few weeks. The goalkeeper was stretchered off at Everton after a collision with Jarrad Branthwaite and underwent surgery on his jaw. Alonso said: “Emi is doing better. He had the surgery and day by day he is feeling better, but we still need to wait. A few weeks. Hopefully, less than more, but we need to wait.”
Alonso did not name his team and the club has not confirmed a line-up. For what has been reported about the goalkeeper, see our piece on Mike Penders and the Spurs game. The earlier Chelsea injury update with Mudryk back in training covers the wider squad, and we reported on the 2-0 win at Everton where Martinez was hurt.
Source: Chelsea FC, Xabi Alonso confirms Chelsea team news for Tottenham (23 October).
