CHELSEA manager Xabi Alonso has admitted he made a mistake in how he dealt with Moises Caicedo.
The midfielder played his first game of the season in Chelsea’s 4-3 win over Brighton last week, coming on in the 68th minute to replace Pedro Neto.
The Ecuadorian had been dealing with a muscle injury coming into the season, but lasted just 14 minutes before limping off in the same game.
He had to be replaced in the 82nd minute by Valentin Barco.
That setback, a recurring muscle injury, ruled Caicedo out of Chelsea’s top-of-the-table meeting with Arsenal on Sunday, which the Blues ended up losing 2-1.
After the game, Alonso admitted it was a ‘mistake’ to bring him back ‘too early’.
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“It is not longer term but it’s about assessing the risk. Probably, last week, we took him too early and I don’t want to make the same mistake again.
“It’s easy after defeats to talk about the players that you are missing. I’m not going to go there, I am happy with the players that we have.
“For sure all the managers need to deal with injuries, with suspensions. To have all the players available for all the games is impossible.
“But we need (Caicedo and Colwill) because they are top players and with them we are a better team.”
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Saturday 12 September
Bournemouth
15:00
EPL
Brentford
Villa
15:00
EPL
Forest
Chelsea
15:00
EPL
Hull
Palace
15:00
EPL
Ipswich
Liverpool
15:00
EPL
Fulham
Spurs
17:30
EPL
Everton
Sunderland
20:00
EPL
Arsenal
Sunday 6 September
Arsenal
2 – 1
EPL
Chelsea
Everton
2 – 2
EPL
Man Utd
Saturday 5 September
Hull
0 – 0
EPL
Villa
Forest
0 – 0
EPL
Spurs
Man City
1 – 0
EPL
Coventry
Fulham
2 – 3
EPL
Palace
English Premier League
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
9
5
3
0
0
2
3
9
5
3
0
0
3
3
7
3
2
1
0
4
3
6
1
2
0
1
5
3
5
3
1
2
0
6
3
5
2
1
2
0
7
3
5
2
1
2
0
8
3
5
2
1
2
0
Chelsea next face Leeds in the FA Cup, before a Premier League clash against flying Hull.
The Tigers are currently on seven points and ahead of the Blues in the league.