Chelsea: Where Estevao Willian fits in all-star attack
Some of Chelsea‘s other young attackers have also struggled to start matches, with Palmer and Rogers beginning every game.
Joao Pedro has started all three league matches, while experienced striker Danny Welbeck led the line against Luton. That has limited Emmanuel Emegha, who joined from Strasbourg in the summer, to only one appearance on the bench.
Similarly, defender Aaron Anselmino is also yet to play and was only included in one squad, albeit both players are managing fitness issues.
Other attacking options, including Geovany Quenda and Jamie Gittens, have featured for only eight and 10 minutes respectively across Chelsea‘s four matches this season.
Quenda, who was signed despite interest from Manchester United in 2024, has also been left out of two of Alonso’s matchday squads.
The situation might be even more challenging if it not for fitness issues affecting Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson, which have at times left Chelsea short in midfield.
Even then, summer signing Valentin Barco has been restricted to one start and a substitute appearance, as right-back Malo Gusto has started in midfield instead. Wing-back Marco Palestra also remains out injured.
If Chelsea had a fully fit squad available, they would have to leave six outfield players out of their matchday squad, with clubs permitted to name 11 starters and nine substitutes in English football.
Analysis of successful teams playing without European football suggests managers often rely on a relatively small core group of players.
Leicester City’s surprise Premier League title-winning side of 2015-16 was achieved with only 14 players making more than 15 appearances in all competitions under Claudio Ranieri.
The following season, Chelsea won the title under Antonio Conte without European commitments. Only 13 players accumulated more than 1,500 minutes in all competitions.
While clubs are now allowed to make five substitutions, only 14 Newcastle United players exceeded the 1,500-minute mark when they qualified for the Champions League in 2022-23.
Perhaps the most relevant comparison is Manchester United after they finished third last season without European football. Only 13 players recorded more than 1,500 minutes across all competitions, although they exited both domestic cup competitions at an early stage.
For those on the fringes, including Estevao, a prolonged cup run could aide their chances of turning brief cameos into opportunities that Alonso cannot ignore.
