Latest: Xabi Alonso on why he left out Enzo Fernandez; if the midfielder will play again for Chelsea | OneFootball

Xabi Alonso has been put on the spot to talk about Enzo Fernandez and his absence from tonight’s squad.

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It was a pretty easy night for Chelsea in the EFL Cup tonight, and inevitably there was more interest in some transfer news than there was in the game itself.

There were a few notable things in the team – but as always, it was the players who weren’t included who drew the most attention.

Enzo Fernandez came on as a sub on Monday night and was in line to start tonight – but instead he was nowhere to be seen, not in the squad at all. That only points in one direction. Xabi Alonso was asked about it in his pre-match press conference.

Alonso addresses elephant in the room as deadline approaches

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Xabi Alonso, Manager of Chelsea, arrives at the stadium before the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Chelsea and Luton Town at Stamford Bridge on August 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

“We assess individually, collectively, what is the best for the team. We made that decision,” the manager said when asked why the midfielder has been left out.

He insisted that it wasn’t Enzo who had asked to be left out – “it was a decision from myself and the club.”

He then went on to say it was “because of the game today” and how Chelsea “needed players to get minutes.”

Well frankly, if it was about getting minutes, Enzo would be the one needed them. Still, the manager left the door open:

“Enzo is a good professional. It was a decision I took. We will see for Sunday.”

In other news…

Chelsea scored two goals and cruised to a win against Luton today, you can see the goals in the clips here.

Picking Cole Palmer and Reece James to start the game was