Xabi Alonso has banned a Chelsea player from the first team. The ban applies to the Carabao Cup game against Leeds.
Chelsea also said no to a midfielder. They could have added another option in the middle. They have issues in that area but still declined. The club had the opportunity to add midfield cover. The area still looks thin for the club. The club said no to that deal.
The starting lineup for Chelsea vs Leeds came out before the kickoff delay. The delay held up the start. The match began 15 minutes late. The game got going after the wait. Chelsea claimed a 3-1 win over Real Sociedad on August 15, 2026.