This was not the night Chelsea wanted to start asking awkward questions about their midfield. In the first match of their Premier League season, they were already without Moises Caicedo, and the reason was as blunt as it was frustrating: the Caicedo injury setback during the week meant Xabi Alonso was never going to gamble on him against Fulham.
That is the part Chelsea supporters will dislike most. Caicedo is not a decorative luxury. Since arriving from Brighton in 2023, he has become one of the most important figures in the side, the sort of player whose absence changes the shape of everything around him. Last season he made 33 Premier League appearances, and that kind of availability matters just as much as the quality he brings. When he is missing, Chelsea look less secure before the ball is even kicked.
Alonso would not take the risk
Xabi Alonso was clear enough about the decision. During the week, Caicedo and Marco Palestra suffered setbacks, and Alonso said they were not ready to play on Monday night. He added that, with Moi, Chelsea did not want to take risks. It was a sensible line, but sensible does not make it any less inconvenient. Clubs can dress this up as caution, but the practical reality is simple: a key midfielder was unavailable for the opening league assignment, and Chelsea had to cope without him.
The absence of Caicedo was made more noticeable by the rest of the team selection. Enzo Fernandez was on the bench, while several other players were left out completely. That does not automatically mean Chelsea were in crisis, but it does mean the opening-night picture was a little stranger than they would have liked. A first game usually offers some clarity. This one offered reminders that selection balance is already an issue.
Marco Palestra’s absence was also a disappointment, because he had been widely expected to make his competitive Chelsea debut after impressing in pre-season. Instead, both he and Caicedo were withheld, and Alonso's caution left Chelsea short of two players many had been expecting to see. In that sense, the night was less about tactical surprise than medical caution, and those are the sort of details that can shape the early weeks of a season.
The bigger point is that Chelsea cannot afford to treat Caicedo as optional. He is too central to what they do, too valuable in the areas where games are won and protected. If this was a one-off precaution, fine. If it becomes a pattern, then Chelsea have an early-season problem they would rather not admit to having. For now, the verdict is straightforward: the Caicedo injury was enough for Alonso to rule him out, and Chelsea had to open their season against Fulham without one of their most instrumental players.
