Chelsea
Chelsea Receive Double Training Lift as Injury Concerns Continue
Palestra and Emegha are back in Chelsea training, but major injury doubts remain ahead of Bournemouth.
Chelsea have been given a welcome lift with Marco Palestra and Emmanuel Emegha back in full training, offering some relief during a period of growing concern over fitness issues across the squad.
The pair were both shown training by the club’s social media team as Chelsea prepare for their next Premier League fixture against Bournemouth on Oct. 10. Their return gives Alonso added depth at a time when selection options have been stretched.
Palestra, who was used heavily in preseason, is expected to strengthen the wing-back positions when he is available again. His versatility on either flank could prove useful, especially with Chelsea having already rotated through Jorrel Hato, Pedro Neto, Pep Chavarría and Malo Gusto in those roles this season.
Emegha’s return also gives Alonso another option in attack. Even so, the striker is not guaranteed significant minutes, with João Pedro and Danny Welbeck having both made goalscoring starts to the campaign.
While the return of Palestra and Emegha is positive, Chelsea are still waiting on updates involving several more important injury cases.
João Pedro missed the 3–0 defeat to Brentford before the international break because of a knee problem, and that issue also forced him to withdraw from Brazil duty. He is expected to be available against Bournemouth, though nothing has been confirmed.
Reece James was also absent from the Brentford defeat and later left out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad. His availability for the Bournemouth match remains unclear.
The same uncertainty applies to Cole Palmer and Moisés Caicedo. Palmer withdrew from the England squad with a muscle issue and was criticised by Tuchel as a result, while Caicedo has managed only 14 competitive minutes this season because of a calf injury.
Chelsea
Lavia Concern Fades as Chelsea Midfielder Explains Belgium Exit
Lavia’s Belgium exit looked worrying, but Chelsea learned it was only cramps, not a fresh injury.
Chelsea avoided a major setback after Roméo Lavia limped out of Belgium’s UEFA Nations League meeting with France, only for the midfielder to later clarify that the issue was not an injury. The scene on Monday night briefly unsettled Stamford Bridge, where his departure after 85 minutes prompted immediate concern.
Lavia has not had an easy time physically since joining Chelsea, with muscular problems affecting his last three years. That history made the sight of him seeking attention on the ground particularly worrying. Yet the midfielder, who was excellent against France, made clear that the problem was simply fatigue and cramps.
“It had been a long time since I’d played at such an intensity,” Lavia told Belgian outlet DH . “It’s a process. From the start, I felt very comfortable; it’s the kind of match everyone loves to play. It’s all coming naturally.”
His performance was a strong one. In Belgium’s narrow 1–0 defeat, decided by Michael Olise after Lavia had already gone off, he completed all 37 of his passes and produced 10 defensive contributions. It was his first senior start for Belgium, and another sign that he is beginning to show the level Chelsea have waited for.
This season, Lavia has been available regularly for Xabi Alonso, appearing in six of Chelsea’s first seven matches and starting five of them. Even so, he is still waiting to complete 90 minutes in an official game for the club.
Chelsea’s midfield has already been stretched. Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo had previously helped cover Lavia’s absences, but Caicedo has been carrying an issue since the start of the term and Fernández has gone to Manchester City. After Chelsea failed to find a replacement, Reece James has spent much of the season alongside Lavia in midfield, though he too is now dealing with a fresh fitness problem, as confirmed by England boss Thomas Tuchel.
Lavia was left out of the disastrous 3–0 defeat against Brentford before the international break, when Jordan Henderson and Valentín Barco formed Alonso’s midfield partnership, with Henderson making his first Chelsea appearance and Barco his first Premier League start.
Chelsea
Joao Pedro explains why he stayed with Chelsea despite Arsenal and Barcelona interest
João Pedro has explained why he ignored Arsenal and Barcelona to commit his future to Chelsea.
João Pedro has set out why he committed his future to Chelsea, despite strong summer interest from Arsenal and Barcelona. The forward said his decision was driven by belief in the club’s direction, even with rival options offering immediate appeal.
In a market short of proven centre forwards, Pedro became a target for several elite sides. Arsenal and Barcelona were both linked with the 24-year-old, viewed by each as an alternative to Julián Alvarez, who was not expected to leave Atlético Madrid. On paper, the chances elsewhere looked attractive, especially with Chelsea heading into a season without European football.
Pedro chose otherwise and signed a new contract that keeps him at Stamford Bridge until 2034. Reflecting on the decision on LinkedIn, he explained the thinking behind it in detail.
“For me, making a decision like this comes down to more than what is happening in the moment,” Pedro would explain on LinkedIn after letting his decision settle. “It’s about looking at where you are, what you still want to achieve and whether the environment around you is helping you get there.
“I think there is a lot to consider when deciding whether to stay or take on something new Progress doesn’t always mean choosing something different. Sometimes it’s recognizing when you’re surrounded by the right people, still learning, still being challenged and still excited by what you’re building together.
“I believe in where this club is going, I believe in the people around me and I want to be part of what comes next. That’s why I’m so proud to have committed my future to Chelsea and to continue this journey with the club.”
The early signs suggest Chelsea have preserved a major asset. Pedro has already delivered a league-high six direct goal contributions in four appearances, with three goals and three assists.
His absence was felt before the international break, when Chelsea were held in check by Brentford without their No. 9. Beyond the numbers, Pedro has given the team a clear focal point, and the comparisons with Karim Benzema reflect the balance and influence he brings to the side.
Aston Villa
Alejandro Garnacho’s career path has turned into a struggle for minutes
Garnacho’s rise has given way to frustration, with Chelsea and Aston Villa both offering little respite.
The international break is usually a chance for players to step away from club football. For Alejandro Garnacho, that luxury does not really exist.
There was a time when the winger looked destined for much bigger things. Signed by Manchester United as a highly rated teenager, he made his senior debut at 17 in April 2022 and had already become one of the side’s most effective players by the 2023-24 season. That campaign ended with him finishing sixth in the Kopa Trophy voting, a sign that his rise had gathered real momentum.
What followed was far less predictable.
In December 2024, Garnacho and Marcus Rashford were omitted from a matchday squad for the derby against Manchester City after manager Ruben Amorim said he was unhappy with their training performances. Garnacho returned quickly and was praised for the way he responded, while Rashford never played under Amorim again. But his situation soon worsened as he found it difficult to fit into Amorim’s winger-less system.
The relationship reached its breaking point after the 2025 Europa League final, when Garnacho questioned why he had not started. Amorim then told him to find a new club, and Chelsea moved in. They had considered a January 2025 approach before paying $54 million (£40 million) six months later.
However, the move did not develop as hoped. Chelsea’s recruitment team drove the deal and Enzo Maresca had not spoken with Garnacho before his arrival, which went some way to explaining his limited starts. He was not criticised for attitude or work rate, but his end product was modest, with eight goals in all competitions and only one in the Premier League.
Chelsea then accepted that offers could be entertained after one season, leading Garnacho to Aston Villa on loan with an obligation to buy under certain conditions. Even there, the search for rhythm has stalled. Unai Emery has given him just 31 minutes this season, with his latest appearance coming on Sept. 5. He was an unused substitute against Coventry City in the Carabao Cup and remained on the bench for the win over Tottenham Hotspur.
“Work, work, train, work,” Emery said, while also noting that other players are “giving us things I want.” For Garnacho, the message is clear.
