Xabi Alonso reaction — Chelsea manager speaks on midfield, Caicedo injury after tight derby loss at Arsenal
· Yahoo Sports
Xabi Alonso is dealing with his first setback as Chelsea boss as his Blues lost 2-1 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
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Xabi Alonso reaction — Chelsea manager speaks after tight derby at Arsenal
Thoughts on the loss? "It hurts because a defeat has to hurt. It has been a very intense game with different moments for everything. We had chances to equalize and a couple of chances in the first half, too. Never happy when you lose."
"After we scored there were 15-20 minutes where we had to defend too much and we struggled to get control. After they equalized we got back in the game and had chances with Morgan and Pedro, too. We could do better on the second goal — we conceded too early. They gave everything and tried everything. It's the first defeat, we have to continue but it has to hurt."
"It's about preparing the best possible way with our quality, ideas, and principles. You know Arsenal do very good, interesting things. They overload on one side with 5-6 players. It's part of the game to have these actions and we continue. It's game three and this is going to be a long, long race."
"You take decisions, make approaches to be active. You want to take initiative. When you can do it with set pieces, sometimes pressing high or lower, it's what you need to compete in all the stages. We came to the Emirates trying to compete everywhere."
"I learned about the game, about us, what we are doing and what we are starting. The players have this attitude, this desire to compete better game-by-game, to try to create something we believe in. I know it's going to be a long way but so far I am happy."
"We need to deal with injuries, all of the squads are missing players. We have full belief in the ones we have. Today they tried the best and have given everything."
Asked about Moises Caicedo and his injury after the game, and when asked if it was a longer term problem Alonso said the following: "Not longer term, but we talk about assessing the risk. Probably last week we took him too early, and I don’t want to make the same mistake.”