Joe Cole fears Xabi Alonso is ‘furious’ with Chelsea board over transfer decision | Football

Joe Cole fears Xabi Alonso sent a ‘furious’ message to the Chelsea board with his decision to bring on 16-year-old Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli during their defeat away to Brentford.

The Blues conceded three times in the second-half at the GTech Community Stadium on Friday night having now shipped at least two in every one of their Premier League games this season.

Moises Caicedo is still to start a game this term due to a muscle injury, missing out again against the Bees. Reece James was also absent having regularly featured in midfield under Alonso.

In their absence, Alonso named 36-year-old Jordan Henderson in midfield alongside summer signing Valentin Barco. While Romeo Lavia was among the subs, Alonso turned to teenage starlet Nicoll-Jazuli as Chelsea chased the game late on, two goals behind before Fabio Carvalho struck in injury time.

Midfield was perhaps Chelsea’s strongest area of the pitch last season but they look considerably lighter after selling Andrey Santos and Enzo Fernandez to Manchester United and Manchester City respectively.

Chelsea sold Fernandez to City on deadline day and had agreed a deal to sign Lamine Camara from Monaco as a replacement only for the move to fall through at the last minute.

Former Premier League striker Glenn Murray identified Nicoll-Jazuli’s introduction as a ‘big message’ to Chelsea’s decision-makers, believing central midfield has been a ‘big blind spot’ for the club.

I think when Xabi Alonso brings on the young boy Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli at 16 when you’re 2-0 down, that is a message to the board that you don’t have enough in midfield with Santos and Fernandez leaving in the transfer window,’ Murray told Premier League Productions.

‘It’s a big blind spot for them, they have had right-backs playing in the centre of midfield on a few occasions, today they have two natural midfielders in but bringing the 16-year-old was a big message.’

Alonso has used three different midfield combinations this season in five league games with right-back Malo Gusto also deployed in the middle of the park.

Chelsea legend Cole agreed the intentions behind Alonso’s late call were ‘as clear as day,’ believing the manner in which he left the pitch at the end of the game spoke volumes.

‘Glenn is absolutely right, Xabi Alonso is sending a message to the board saying we have not got enough and I’m putting a 16-year-old kid into midfield when we are chasing a game away to our rivals.

‘That was clear as day for me. And the way he walked off at the end,  I think he is furious with that.’

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