Maxence Lacroix’s hamstring injury rules him out of Gameweek 9, with Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso expecting the defender to be sidelined until after the international break. Lacroix picked up the problem midweek, leaving the club without him for the next match and making his return dependent on how he recovers over the coming weeks. Alonso’s update gives a broad timeframe rather than a firm date, so there’s no confirmed point at which Lacroix will be available again.
For anyone weighing up Chelsea’s defensive options, that uncertainty matters. A player ruled out for one match presents a different planning problem from one expected to miss several weeks, particularly when an international break interrupts the schedule. The wording from Alonso suggests Lacroix won’t be ready before that pause, but it doesn’t establish how soon afterward he’ll be fit to return.
- READ MORE: Press conferences for Gameweek 9
“Max picked up an injury and we expect that he is not going to be ready before the international break. So, he will be a few weeks out.” – Xabi Alonso on Maxence Lacroix
That’s a meaningful absence, though the available information doesn’t say who’ll take Lacroix’s place or how Chelsea will adjust their defensive shape. Those decisions can depend on the opponent, the condition of other players and the options Alonso has in training. The injury report gives no basis for treating one replacement as certain.
Who is available for Chelsea?
Joao Pedro remains out with a quad injury. Jorrel Hato, Reece James (knee), Aaron Anselmino (unknown) and Jamie Gittens (ankle) are also sidelined. Moises Caicedo, who came off against Liverpool on Wednesday, is fit for the next match. Pep Chavarria has returned to the squad after a muscle problem.
The list leaves Chelsea with several absences across different positions, while Caicedo’s fitness removes one immediate concern. His departure against Liverpool could have prompted questions about whether he’d be available again so soon; Alonso has answered those directly. Still, a player being declared fit for the next match doesn’t tell us how many minutes he’ll play or whether he’ll start.
Chavarria’s return gives Alonso another option at left-back, an area where Hato remains unavailable. That distinction is useful: returning to the squad makes Chavarria available for selection, but it doesn’t guarantee a place in the starting lineup. If you’re working through Chelsea’s likely team, keep confirmed fitness separate from predictions about selection.
“No, no issue. He’s okay for tomorrow.” – Xabi Alonso on Moises Caicedo
“Jorrel, no, but Pep Chavarria is back in the squad, yes.” – Xabi Alonso on his left-back options for Gameweek 9
There’s a practical difference between an injury update and a lineup hint. Alonso has confirmed Caicedo is okay and Chavarria is back in the squad; neither statement settles the full team. That’s the part most people overlook when turning a press conference into a predicted lineup: availability narrows the possibilities, but it doesn’t identify the coach’s choice.
Martinez and Palmer updates
Emiliano Martinez could return before the international break, though Alonso said the club will assess him next week. The goalkeeper may need to wear a face mask if cleared to play. Cole Palmer is available again after serving a one-match suspension in midweek.
Martinez’s status remains conditional. Alonso has described a chance of a return, not a confirmed comeback, and the club plans to assess him next week. The possible face mask is another detail to track if he is cleared, although the update doesn’t explain how it might affect his performance or whether it would change his selection prospects.
Palmer’s situation is clearer: his absence in midweek was due to suspension, and he’s available again. That puts him back among Alonso’s options, but availability alone doesn’t confirm a starting role or establish how the rest of the team will be arranged. For readers following the squad, it’s a straightforward change in eligibility rather than a new fitness development.
“Yes, there is a chance [Martinez could return before the break]. We need to still wait for next week, let’s see how things go, but there’s a chance.
“In case he’s ready to play, he will probably need a face mask.” – Xabi Alonso on Emi Martinez
What the updates mean for Gameweek 9
The immediate picture is a mix of confirmed absences, one clear return from suspension and a few fitness updates that stop short of guaranteeing selection. Lacroix is expected to miss the match and remain out until after the international break. Caicedo is fit, Chavarria is back in the squad, and Palmer is available again; Martinez’s potential return is still subject to an assessment.
This is more significant than it looks for anyone trying to read the team news quickly. The number of players listed as unavailable can make the squad seem easier to predict, but the updates don’t confirm who’ll start in their place. Nor do they provide a firm return date for Lacroix or Martinez. The safest reading is the narrow one: use Alonso’s comments to establish who’s available, then wait for the lineup to settle the remaining questions.
And yet, the next checkpoint is already clear. Martinez is due to be assessed next week, while Lacroix’s return is expected only after the international break. Those are different timelines, and they shouldn’t be blurred into a single injury picture. For Gameweek 9, the confirmed information is enough to flag the absentees and available players; beyond that, selection remains open.
