In the second round of the Carabao Cup, Chelsea defeated Luton 2-0 at home. Following the match, Chelsea manager Xavi Alonso attended a press conference to address media questions.

Xavi, congratulations on the win. You fielded a very strong squad. What are your thoughts on the team's performance tonight?

Good evening everyone. Of course, we always want to select a competitive squad. We take all matches seriously. I think we're currently in a transition phase from preseason to the competitive season. Many things have just begun, and many processes are still forming. I'm pleased that some players made their club debuts and got their first minutes. Also, I'm happy to play our first official home match. It's not easy. Credit to Luton, they made it difficult for us, but we played with confidence and patience, knowing that the first goal would eventually come, and we did it very well.

What happened between yesterday's press conference and today that led to Enzo not being in the squad? We all thought he would play tonight.

Yes, but we evaluated what's best for the team tonight from both individual and collective perspectives, and what's better for the other players getting minutes, and then we made our decision.

Following up on that, there are reports from Argentina that he himself asked not to play in this match. Can you confirm that?

Related reading: [Reporter: Enzo, who is in talks with Manchester City, asked Alonso not to let him play in tonight's match]

No, no, this is a decision made by me and the club together.

Regarding the players making their debuts tonight, what did you think of the performances of Welbeck, Penders, and Barco?

Yes, for them it was a special day to remember. Mike (Penders) must be delighted, because for a goalkeeper, the feeling of a clean sheet on debut is always incredible. Valentín (Barco) was very impressive, very dynamic, excellent with the ball at his feet, and very sharp in midfield awareness. Danny (Welbeck) was patient, he stayed in the box waiting for the cross. In the first half we had chances but couldn't finish, and he scored the opener, which was crucial, from a fantastic assist from Gusto—he was there and did what he does best, scoring from the right position.

After Reece James came off the field, you let Cole Palmer wear the armband and play the full 90 minutes. For some, keeping him on might have been slightly surprising. Why did you insist on keeping him on?

Cole had a good preseason and he's very ready. He's the type of player who can play 90 minutes. We have our own ideas depending on the specific match situation, but Cole's physical condition and stamina are excellent. Now he needs to recover well for Sunday's match.

You always say that building attacking chemistry is crucial. I felt that tonight, although Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers didn't score, you should be quite satisfied with their display, no?

Yes, overall, the team's performance was very serious. This is undoubtedly a match to learn how to break down a low block. Facing a 5-4-1 formation, against any team in any league, isn't easy, and we need to learn from today because we'll face this in other matches.

Xavi, regarding Enzo's absence, you said it was a decision made by you and the club. Is this because there are ongoing transfer negotiations concerning Enzo?

No, no, no, this is solely because of tonight's match. We have other players who need playing time, so we made that decision.

When did you make this decision?

Yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon?

In the afternoon.

Did you speak with him?

It was my decision.

How did he react when you told him?

Very well, he's a professional player. He trained well, and I have nothing bad to say about him. It's simply a decision we had to make given tonight's match, and we'll see how Sunday goes.

Can we ask, there are reports that Chelsea is looking at E. Martinez. Is Robert still the number one goalkeeper?

I don't want to discuss that because I only like to talk about the players currently in my dressing room, focus on them, and discussing other things isn't respectful.

Regarding the goalkeeper situation, how do you evaluate Penders' performance tonight? If E. Martinez joins, what's the plan going forward for the goalkeeper position?

Regarding Mike (Penders), what's certain is that he'll face more challenging matches in the future. But you can see that whenever he faces pressure, he plays calmly, with steady footwork. He didn't have many saves tonight, but he's a very good prospect for now and the future. So we need to take it step by step—he's currently playing in cup matches, and we still have to wait and see.

Two questions: Given the transfer rumors about E. Martinez, do you need to have a conversation with Robert and Mike? Second, will Enzo be considered for Sunday's match?

The match has just finished. I'm thinking about tonight's match against Luton and we now need to shift focus. Starting tomorrow, we'll prepare for Brighton. No players were injured tonight, and some who played more minutes need recovery, but we need full physical strength and a clear mind because we'll face a big battle on Sunday.

Xavi, regarding the E. Martinez transfer rumors, throughout the summer, the club's message has always been that Chelsea is satisfied with the current goalkeeper setup. What changed this? Was it Robert's performance on Monday night, or why have things shifted?

No, we're satisfied with the current squad setup, but as I always say, we need to monitor the situation. The transfer window still has time, and we can still make decisions. Let's see what happens next.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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