Chelsea latest: Alonso takes blame for Blues' slow start after 'risky' changes

· Sky-Transfer

The fourth round of the competition takes place the week commencing October 26.

Carabao Cup fourth round draw confirmed

The fourth round of the competition takes place the week commencing October 26.

Joao Pedro pulls out of Brazil squad with injury

The Chelsea striker has been replaced by Fluminese's Matheus Martinelli.

In a statement on X, Brazil's national team said: > "Martinelli was called up on this Wednesday (16) by coach Carlo Ancelotti for the Brazil National Team's friendlies against Australia and India, in the upcoming FIFA international window. > > "The player will replace Chelsea striker João Pedro, who is injured."

Pedro played 90 minutes and scored a second-half equaliser as Chelsea drew 2-2 with Hull last week.

The Blues play Brentford on Friday night, live on Sky Sports, before the Brazil international break.

Boehly leaves Chelsea after selling shares to Clearlake Capital

Mark Walter has also sold his shares to Clearlake Capital.

Chelsea confirmed the hierarchical changes late on Wednesday night, which sees Clearlake Capital acquire full control of the club.

Boehly and Walter owned 12.8 per cent each, but with their sale, Clearlake Capital now owns 87.2 per cent of Chelsea.

Hansjorg Wyss, who owns 12.8 per cent, remains involved in Chelsea's ownership structure.

The Blues also confirmed "there will be no changes to the day-to-day operations, leadership or strategy at the club".

Boehly was the face of the consortium which bought the club four years ago in a £2.5bn deal.

But he now departs the club to leave Chelsea under the leadership of Behdad Eghbali and Jose Feliciano.

Boehly said: > "I have valued my partnership with Clearlake and the wider ownership group, and the collective decisions and investment we have made to support the immediate and long-term success of the club. > > "I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned for continued success under Clearlake’s leadership."

Eghbali and Feliciano, co-founders of Clearlake Capital, said: > "Todd has been an important partner throughout our ownership of Chelsea, and we thank him for his time and contribution as chairman. He will always be a part of the Chelsea story and family. > > "Clearlake has served as Chelsea’s majority owner since 2022, and as we move to full control, our focus is to continue investing in the club’s infrastructure, sporting performance, player development and delivering long-term success for Chelsea and the club’s supporters.'

Carabao Cup fourth round draw confirmed

Pedro wants new moniker for Chelsea’s front three

The trio have been dubbed “JP Morgan” and “CPR” by supporters after making an impressive start to the new season.

Striker Pedro has already registered three goals and three assists this term, while playmaker Palmer has four goals and two assists and Rogers has contributed three goals and four assists since joining from Aston Villa.

The Brazilian believes the three complement each other well.

> “Morgan is a very skilful player, he can dribble past two or three guys and carry the ball, that is what we expect from him and he started very well,” said Pedro, speaking to the Men In Blazers Media Network. > > “For Cole I always try to give the ball to his feet and Morgan more to the space to let him get into one-v-one situations, and my job is just to run and then they’re going to find me. I run and I have to score. > > “I have to be ready when Cole gets the ball and be in the right position to make the run and score because if not then later he will say ‘Hey, Joao, you need to give me assists’. > > “He can score, pass, score free-kicks, he can do everything. That is what makes him special. He is a special player. > > “I think you guys think he is a closed guy but with us he is mad, he jokes. Me and Morgan are very close to him, he is a funny guy.”

Pedro was less enthusiastic about the nicknames fans have given the trio.

> “We need to find a very good nickname,” he said. “I don’t like CPR, and he (Palmer) doesn’t like JP Morgan, so we need to find something between to make everyone happy.”

'I like it' | Hazard praises Chelsea's front three

KMI Panel backs Gabriel over Martinez kick

Gabriel's left foot connected with Martinez's head as players from both sides challenged for the ball in the fifth minute of Arsenal's 2-1 victory earlier this month.

The incident went unpunished by referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR did not intervene.

The KMI Panel provides an independent assessment of key decisions in every Premier League match, and it unanimously supported the decision not to issue a red card.

> "Multiple players were on the ground competing and challenging for the loose ball, and the action of Gabriel was not deemed to be an act of violent conduct or serious foul play," the panel said.

Caicedo a doubt for Brentford clash

The Ecuadorian was not present for the first 15 minutes of today’s training session filmed by Sky Sports News.

Caicedo has been managing a calf issue and has missed the club’s last three matches having hobbled off during their 4-3 victory over Brighton.

Joao Pedro and Reece James were also not involved in the open section of this morning’s training.

The pair’s minutes have been managed during the opening week of the new campaign, with players following varying schedules.

In positive news, Marco Palestra and Jordan Henderson were involved in full team training.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso was hopeful that the Italian wing-back would be ready to make his debut for the club this week.

Henderson has yet to feature for Chelsea having moved from west London rivals Brentford this summer.

The England midfielder has been recovering from a freak arm injury sustained during the World Cup.

Terry offers advice amid Chelsea defensive struggles

The Blues have shown some positives signs under Alonso, who took over in the summer, following up a battling defeat at champions Arsenal with a 6-3 thrashing of Leeds in the Carabao Cup.

Chelsea, though, were then held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Hull at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Morgan Rogers, a big-money signing from Aston Villa, had given Chelsea an early lead only for Mohamed Belloumi’s double to put the Premier League newcomers in front by the break before Joao Pedro eventually hit a second-half equaliser.

It leaves Chelsea on seven points from their opening four league games and sixth ahead of Friday night’s west London derby at Brentford, who remain unbeaten following three draws.

Terry – who won both the Premier League and FA Cup five times, and was part of the Blues’ successful 2012 Champions League squad – would like to see the players focusing on the fundamentals to help get themselves into a consistent run.

> “The only advice I can give in these moments, and when you go through these moments as a player, [is] do the basics really well,” Terry said in a review of the Hull match on his YouTube channel. > > “When you have got time to play on the ball, you have got to be really comfortable because that is the game now, but when you get opportunities, especially against teams like that [Hull] that are going to throw bodies in the box, long crosses, long throws, direct balls from the goalkeeper, you have to win those battles. > > “So again [it is] the real basics of blocks, tackles, headers from corners, from long throw-ins, all of these bits – just get the ball as far away as possible as you can, and get people in front of you working as hard as possible. For me, that’s the real basics, [and] you don’t see enough of it now.”

Terry added: > “That is where the supporters want to see an outstretched body, take one in the leg, put it out for a corner. > > “The number of times I used to make tackles or a big header, and the supporters would love it – they are the bits as a defender that have to get your blood going, and it is those little moments that we need to get better at.”

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