Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso warns against rushing Moises Caicedo back after injury setback

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says he does not want to repeat the mistake of bringing Moises Caicedo back too soon after the midfielder missed Sunday's 2-1 Premier League defeat by Arsenal.

The 24-year-old was left out of Chelsea's squad for their visit to Emirates Stadium after suffering a setback in the side's previous match against Brighton. Romeo Lavia and Reece James were used in central midfield in Caicedo's absence.

Caicedo had returned to action in Chelsea's win over Brighton after recovering from a slight knock. However, his comeback lasted only 14 minutes before he was forced to leave the pitch, appearing to aggravate the problem.

Alonso acknowledged after the loss to Arsenal that Chelsea may have taken a risk by selecting Caicedo against Brighton. The manager was asked when the Ecuador midfielder might be available again and suggested the club would take a cautious approach while assessing his condition.

“Not longer term but it is about assessing the risk. Probably last week we took him too early and I don't want to take the same mistake again.”

The comments indicate that Caicedo is unlikely to return for Chelsea's next fixture, with Leeds due to visit in the League Cup on Wednesday, September 9.

Chelsea's defeat at Arsenal came with Caicedo unavailable for selection, leaving Alonso to reorganise the midfield. Lavia and James were deployed in the central positions for the Premier League meeting at Emirates Stadium, while the club continues to monitor Caicedo's fitness.

The midfielder's latest issue follows his brief appearance against Brighton, where he was unable to complete the match after returning from the initial knock. Alonso's admission suggests the priority is now to avoid another premature comeback rather than set an immediate return date.

Chelsea therefore face uncertainty over Caicedo's involvement in the League Cup, although the available information points towards him missing the match against Leeds. No specific timeframe for his return has been provided.

The loss to Arsenal leaves Chelsea preparing for their next match without one of their important midfield options. Alonso's update focused on the need to assess the risk surrounding Caicedo's recovery, rather than committing to a date for his return.