Chelsea fight to stop flu spreading through squad after two fall ill

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Evening Standard

·14 January 2026

Chelsea fight to stop flu spreading through squad after two fall ill

While the likes of Cole Palmer is out with injury, a virus has left two others stricken

Chelsea are keeping their ill players away from the rest of the first team so flu does not spread, according to head coach Liam Rosenior.

The Blues lost 3-2 to Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday night, but were hit by an injury and illness crisis in the hours before the game.

Cole Palmer, Reece James and Malo Gusto had all missed the 5-1 win at Charlton on Saturday as a “precaution” but none of the trio were fit enough to return against the Gunners.

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Then Chelsea were hit with a further blow as Jamie Gittens fell ill on Tuesday night, and then Liam Delap, who had been due to start, had to pull out of the game hours before kick-off, also due to illness.

Rosenior is hopeful many will be available for Saturday’s Premier League match against Brentford.

“For Cole, the game just came too early for him,” Rosenior said after Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

“Hopefully, he will be available to train on Friday and available to play for us on Saturday. But he had a little minor strain in his thigh.

“If you play a player too early in January with a minor strain, it can turn into six weeks. I can’t afford to lose Cole Palmer for six weeks because he’s that good.

“Reece had a big knock on his hip. It was too sore for him today. Hopefully, he will be back for Saturday.

“Considering those two are out, Jamie Gittens was ill last night. Liam Delap was due to play today and was ill four hours before the game and we couldn’t play him. Moises Caicedo was suspended. Malo Gusto was out.”

Asked whether anyone else had been impacted by illness, Rosenior replied: “Hopefully not. Not yet. I want to keep the ill players away from the group so it doesn’t spread.”

Confirming the pair had the flu, Rosenior added: “Yes, it was both of them with really high temperatures — dangerously high. Hopefully they can rest up and be OK, I’m hoping, for Saturday.”