Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill for their pre-season clash against Juventus, as head coach Xabi Alonso opts for caution with both players carrying minor fitness concerns.
The decision comes after Chelsea's Premier League summer preparations suffered a setback last weekend, when a strong starting XI lost 2-1 to a 10-man Tottenham side in Sydney. That result marked the first defeat of Alonso's tenure since he took charge of the Blues, adding some urgency to Wednesday's fixture against the Italian giants.
Palmer, who was troubled by a recurring groin problem for much of last season, was seen working individually away from his teammates during Chelsea's first training session since the Tottenham defeat. Colwill, meanwhile, did not take part in the session at all. The England international only recently returned to full fitness after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered during pre-season training last year.
While neither issue is considered serious, Alonso has chosen not to take any risks with two of his most important players, given that the Premier League season is still three weeks away. Both absences are understood to be purely precautionary in nature, with the club prioritizing long-term fitness over short-term results in these early summer fixtures.
Despite the absences of Palmer and Colwill, Alonso has used the occasion to hand out notable opportunities to other members of his squad. Danny Welbeck, one of Chelsea's new summer signings, makes his debut for the club against Juventus. The former England forward joins a Chelsea side looking to strengthen its attacking options ahead of the new campaign.
Also making his first career start for the senior team is 16-year-old midfielder Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, one of the most highly rated prospects in Chelsea's academy setup. His inclusion in the starting lineup represents a significant vote of confidence from Alonso, who appears willing to blood younger talents during this pre-season window.
Elsewhere, Mykhailo Mudryk returns to involvement with the first team for the first time since November 2024, taking a place on the substitutes' bench for the Juventus match. The Ukrainian winger's return follows a period away from the squad connected to a doping ban. His future at Stamford Bridge remains uncertain, with reports suggesting interest from clubs both in England and abroad over a potential loan move. Alonso, however, has indicated that no decision has yet been made regarding the 25-year-old's next steps, suggesting the club is still weighing up its options before the transfer window progresses further.
Chelsea's pre-season schedule continues to serve as an important testing ground for Alonso as he fine-tunes his squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign. With injuries to key figures like Palmer and Colwill being carefully managed, the Spanish coach appears intent on building squad depth and giving opportunities to fringe players and academy graduates alike, all while keeping his eye on the bigger picture of a long domestic season ahead.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (Football).