Chelsea: There’s Already a Marco Palestra Controversy—Xabi Alonso Explains

When Marco Palestra agreed this summer to turn down Inter and join Chelsea, he was expecting a very different start in London. The former Cagliari fullback, after a strong preseason, suddenly hit a snag and has yet to make his debut for the Blues.

When asked about the player’s situation at a press conference, Chelsea coach Xabi Alonso explained what’s holding the Italian international back: “The injury is to his quadriceps. He’s almost in the final stage of recovery, so we’ll see. I don’t know if he’ll be fit for Brentford, but he’ll definitely be ready for Bournemouth,” said the Spanish coach. Palestra thus risks having to postpone his debut until late October, after the international break.

“He’s quite frustrated—after an excellent preseason—that he hasn’t been able to play and make his Premier League debut,” Xabi Alonso continued. I told him to stay calm; the season is long and there will be plenty of games. He’ll get his minutes and play his part, and he’ll have fun too. He’s full of energy and needs to know how to manage it.”

Palestra’s transfer to Chelsea was one of the big stories of the summer transfer window: after a long courtship by Inter, the player suddenly decided to opt for the Premier League destination right away, putting the Nerazzurri in a bind; after a lengthy search, they decided to sign Spence.