In a post‑match interview after a 3‑0 loss to Brentford, Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso explained why he chose to field three teenagers in the second half of the Premier League fixture at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The match, played on Friday, saw Brentford secure all three points with a comfortable win over Chelsea. With the score at 2‑0, Alonso opted to bring on 16‑year‑old Mahdi Nicoll‑Jazuli, 19‑year‑old Geovany Quenda and 19‑year‑old Estevao Willian for the final 30 minutes.
Alonso said the decision was driven by the need for “great energy” and the fact that the squad was short on numbers in midfield. “With 2‑0 we brought Mahdi because he has great energy, that at the moment in the middle we were short of numbers,” he told Football London. “The other ones are Geo and Estevao. Yeah, because they have been trained well, they are part of the squad.”
The former Real Madrid manager has been working to integrate youth players into the first team, a strategy that was on display in this match. Despite the defeat, the experience was intended to give the youngsters exposure to top‑flight football.
Chelsea will next face Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge after the international break, with the club looking to rebound from the loss and continue their campaign in the Premier League.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
