Xabi Alonso Hints Enzo Fernandez Lacked Desire to Play

Enzo Fernandez was conspicuously absent from Chelsea's squad for last night's clash with Luton, and manager Xabi Alonso has shed light on the midfielder's omission. The Chelsea boss hinted that Fernandez lacked the "desire to play," which led to the wantaway midfielder being dropped from the squad on Thursday evening.

The Argentine was left out of the Blues' Carabao Cup second-round victory amidst ongoing speculation surrounding his future at Stamford Bridge. Despite reports from Argentina suggesting Manchester City was close to an agreement for Fernandez, sources within Chelsea insist there has been no direct contact between the clubs.

Insiders at Stamford Bridge also maintain that any incoming offer would be considered solely with Alonso's squad in mind and in the context of strengthening the Spaniard's options. Chelsea would seek a replacement for Fernandez should he depart. Alex Scott remains on their radar, Morgan Gibbs-White has admirers within the club, and Monaco's Lamine Camara has also been linked with a move.

Alonso stated that the initial plan was for Fernandez to be part of the squad for the Luton match. However, later in the afternoon, the manager informed the Argentine international that he would not feature in the Stamford Bridge fixture.

"I said we need players who are in the best condition to play," Alonso declared. "We have to consider everything – which players are in form and which don't feel that energy to play. For me, it's very important that they have that desire to play and are well-prepared."

Alonso then elaborated on his conversation with Fernandez: "We spoke, and we decided that for tonight, it was better for him not to be part of the squad. He is a top player."

On Sunday afternoon, Danny Welbeck will face his former club Brighton, less than a month after leaving the Amex to move to Stamford Bridge. The 35-year-old striker scored his first goal for the Blues in Thursday's cup victory over Luton, and Alonso is delighted with the impact the experienced forward is having on the team.

"He has a lot of qualities," explained the Chelsea manager. "As a player, you see how intelligent he is. He connects well with others. Outside the box, he's capable of combining. Inside the box, he's very intelligent to be in the right place. In daily life, he has a great influence on the other players. He trains really hard. He raises all the standards in training, and that's something we consider very important."