Alonso: I sympathise with Carrick, and this is the truth about Estivao's departure in January

Spanish manager Xabi Alonso appeared at a press conference to discuss the upcoming clash with Manchester United, scheduled for Saturday, as part of the ninth round of the Premier League, at Stamford Bridge, following the team's losses to Tottenham and Liverpool last week.

The manager spoke about facing Manchester United after defeats to Tottenham and Liverpool: "We are back in the Premier League now, which is the most important competition for us this year, and in almost every year. It’s a big match. We haven’t had much time to prepare, but it’s extremely important, especially after our last match at home, as we need to continue winning and regain that feeling of victory."

He added: "Since leaving Liverpool, we started thinking about facing Manchester United. I saw a better version of our team on Wednesday compared to what we delivered on Saturday, even though the result was not what we wanted in both matches. This is a journey we will go through with difficult moments, and we have to learn from them."

Regarding Estefao's limited minutes this season, Alonso said: "He will definitely get a chance to play. The season is still long, and there will be opportunities for everyone, and he will get his minutes. We are still at the beginning of the season, but he will be an important player for us. It's not about commitment or behavior, but about the circumstances of the matches. He is a great person. We are still in October, and he will have an important role; it's no secret that all players want to be on the pitch and participate in matches. I take responsibility for that and for their satisfaction. Everyone must be ready, as every match is important. Estefao is training well, and his attitude has been positive; there are no discussions regarding his loan in January."

Regarding Maxence Lacroix's injury, who left the Liverpool match in the League Cup on Wednesday affected by the injury, Alonso explained: "Max suffered an injury, and we expect him to be unavailable before the international break. He will be out for several weeks."

Regarding the possibility of Emiliano Martínez returning before the international break, he said: "Yes, there is a chance for his return. We have to wait until next week to see how things go. And if he becomes ready to participate, he may need to wear a protective face mask."

Alonso has confirmed that Moisés Caicedo is not suffering from any issues after appearing to sustain a knock during the match against Liverpool, noting that Pep Chavarría has returned to the squad, while Joril Hato remains unavailable.

Chelsea manager spoke about Cole Palmer, who was sent off after receiving two yellow cards during the team's loss to Tottenham last week, before returning from suspension after missing the match against Liverpool in the EFL Cup. He said: "We talked about the game and the things he can improve, but we always do that; we don't want to repeat what happened, but it's the first time he has been sent off. So we talked to him more about football because Cole is a smart player."

Regarding the difficulties faced by Manchester United and the pressures surrounding their manager Michael Carrick, Alonso said: "I have great respect for Michael, and I empathize with him as a coach. I know him because we have played against each other, and we recently participated in a legends match and exchanged a few words. He is a good person, the kind you want to spend time with. Beyond that, it is not my place to comment on this matter."

When asked whether the noise surrounding Chelsea's rivals affects the team's preparation for the match, he replied: "For me, nothing changes. We need to prepare in the same way, and we can only control the things that are under our control. We know they are a good team, and their position in the league table doesn't matter. They have a good group of players, some outstanding individuals, and a good coach."