Emiliano Martinez is close to returning after surgery on a fractured jaw and is already training with Chelsea. Xabi Alonso also reported minor issues for Moises Caicedo and provided an update on the other injured players.
Emi Martinez returned to training this week. Will he start on Sunday?
Tomorrow we have our final training session before Sunday, and after that we will make a decision.
But he is training.
He is training well.
All the decisions are difficult — you know the situation in that position.
But it is very good that Emi has made a huge effort to come back.
He is ahead of the original schedule and can already be part of the team.
We will check everything tomorrow and make the final decision on Sunday.
We did not see Moises Caicedo in the first part of training on Wednesday. What is the situation with him?
He had some minor issues after the last match.
So tomorrow we have to assess a few situations, and Moi is one of them.
Is it related to his calf again or is it a new issue?
It is more discomfort than a specific calf problem.
Any news on Maxence Lacroix or Joao Pedro?
No, there is no significant news.
We are certainly not expecting them back by tomorrow.
That is clear.
We will see how their recovery goes and what progress they make over the two weeks of the international break.
I will surely have more information before the match against Leeds, but I do not have it today.
How is Jorrel Hato now?
No, no, no, he is not ready.
He will need a few more weeks.
He is not even close to returning yet.
Perhaps the situation will change after the international break, but his recovery will take longer.
How do you work with a player when he is out of the team for a long time?
There are times when a player feels very far from getting on the pitch, even though that is not really the case.
It all depends on the opportunity.
Everyone will have their moment.
We have already seen that and we will see it again.
Especially given that we have injuries in certain positions — more often in some than others.
But over the long term, it becomes clear that everyone will get an opportunity.
Everyone will play their part.
Martinez has been training in a special protective mask since his operation.
Where did Emi Martinez get the mask?
I think a specialist made it, not a Halloween shop, I suppose [laughs].
Of course, a specialist.
What does the mask do and how comfortable is he playing in it?
He is getting used to it.
Of course, it is not the most comfortable thing, but he is gradually adapting.
He has trained in it for almost the entire week.
I think he will have to put up with it and get used to it for a while.
He does all his work in it, so it does not get in his way.
After the concussion, the doctors have already given us the green light.
Three weeks have passed, so now we have all the necessary clearances.
