League: EPL Sport: Soccer Country: England Category: Injuries

Xabi Alonso questions readiness of Chelsea's World Cup players for opener

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 20, 2026, 2:05 PM

Last updated Aug 20, 2026

Xabi Alonso questions readiness of Chelsea's World Cup players for opener

Summary

Xabi Alonso addressed media on August 20 regarding Chelsea's fitness ahead of their opening Premier League match against Fulham. The new manager indicated uncertainty about the availability of players returning from the World Cup, as they have had limited training time. Alonso confirmed there are no new injuries but highlighted that some players, including Enzo Fernandez, may not be ready to start. Chelsea's match is scheduled for Monday night, and Alonso plans to assess their fitness closer to kick-off.

Source Links

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Status Watch

•Xabi Alonso holds press conference ahead of Chelsea's Premier League opener.
•Concerns raised about fitness of World Cup-returning players.
•No new injuries reported within the squad.
•Fernandez and other players may not start against Fulham.
•Chelsea's season opener is on Monday night.

Latest Updates

2:05 PMYahoo Sports — “We will check” – Xabi Alonso cast doubt over Chelsea’s strongest team for first game

What they're saying

"
Xabi Alonso has given his Premier League press conference, and he was asked how ready some of his World Cup players are to playing.If you enjoy Talk Chelsea coverage and want to see more of it, add us...
— Yahoo Sports

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