Alonso: I don't know if Caicedo has been called up to the national team, but I can't intervene

On September 19th, Chelsea will face Brentford away in the 5th round of the Premier League. On the eve of the match, Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso attended a press conference. This article covers the second half of the press conference.

Regarding Brentford, their core play relies heavily on quick transitions, set pieces, and long throws. How have you been specifically training this week to help the team defend against these threats?

Yes, they excel in those areas, but there's much more to them than that. They can play with different tactics, not just relying on transitions or set pieces. I think they are a very tactically sound team with an established development plan and playing style. Both in possession and out of possession, they are very comprehensive across many levels. And in their home games, if you look at the recent data, they have strong dominance at home, so this will be a big challenge. I watched last season's match, and you can learn from all experiences. Tomorrow will be a tough test for us.

One final question: when you played for Liverpool and Keith Andrews was playing for Blackburn, you played against him twice and won both games. How well do you know him?

Well, those were the old days! Good old days, yes! I remember enjoying those matches every time we went to Blackburn. Most of my memories from my time playing in the Premier League are very good.

Regarding João Félix, one more question: did he train today? We just want to know if he's close to full fitness. Is he ready to play?

We'll see tomorrow if he's ready to play. A decision will be made then.

One more question about Moisés Caicedo: do you expect him to be called up to the Ecuador national team? Would you personally prefer that he doesn't go?

I don't know if he's been called up to the Ecuador national team, but all my attention right now is focused on when he can play for Chelsea. That's what concerns me. As for anything else beyond that, it's not within my control.

As I assume, for a player who has been out injured for quite a long time, if he suddenly returns this weekend and then has to play for the national team for three weeks, that's probably not an ideal situation, is it?

Yes, but that's the duty of a national team call-up, and sometimes you can't intervene at all. So let's wait and see. The international break is indeed a long hiatus.

I mean, at a critical stage where Chelsea is rebuilding and establishing its tactical system, does it frustrate you that you have to let players go for two and a half weeks? What are your thoughts?

No, I know it's frustrating, but that's just how it is. I try not to get frustrated about things that are beyond my control, because I can't control them. We've been working together for a while now, and we'll have plenty more time together in the future. In the Premier League, there's no winter break, so we'll be together during Christmas when there will be a lot of games. We've taken a few steps forward, and there's still a long way to go.

Regarding the entire Premier League, how do you see the competitive landscape so far? Do you think Arsenal are a step above other teams? How big do you think the gap is between Chelsea and them?

It's too early to draw conclusions. Of course, Arsenal and Manchester City have won all their games so far, but there's a long season ahead. I knew this before, but only when you're in it do you truly realize how difficult every game is and how hard it is to win. You can never take any game for granted; you have to be at your best, because if you're not, you'll pay a heavy price. We've learned that firsthand. But I believe all teams will have their highs and lows.

Finally, you mentioned Brentford and their set-piece threat. Have you spent a lot of time on set-piece defense this week? Also, how important is Austin McPhee from the coaching staff to the club?

Well, we want to have top experts in every specific area, whether it's attacking, defending, or set-piece details. Austin has extremely rich and valuable experience in the Premier League, and he helps us greatly. We've conducted targeted training for every aspect of the match, fully understanding the opponent we will face tomorrow.

Hello Alonso, a question about Marco Palesstra: I'm not asking if he can play tomorrow, but about his unavailability since the start of the season. What I really want to know is: how do you help a player who is both recovering from injury and has no Premier League experience truly integrate into the team?

Undoubtedly, the best way to adapt is through competitive matches. Sometimes you can progress gradually, but some players need to dive directly into high-intensity games, make an immediate impact, learn and gain experience fast. We'll do our best to help them along the way. I think he is very young, energetic, and has huge potential. The step from his first year in Serie A last season to here is indeed a big one. But he possesses many excellent qualities that we've been looking for, and he needs to adapt to the Premier League rhythm as quickly as possible.

A broader question: we are about to enter the international break after completing this round of five matches. Are you satisfied with the team's current performance? What areas do you think the team needs to improve the most?

Well, obviously we can do better defensively. We've performed well offensively, but we need to find the right balance between defense and offense so we don't concede so many goals. This is very clear, and I firmly believe we can achieve it. Any change takes time, and some objective factors have previously prevented us from building the ideal stability. But once we establish that stability, I believe our defense and the entire team will become more solid.

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