Xabi Alonso made his priorities clear after Chelsea were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Liverpool, describing the competition as the least important trophy on the club’s agenda this season.
“Chelsea” drew 1-1 at “Anfield” and lost 6-5 on penalties. Wesley Fofana failed to score the decisive point.
Instead of dwelling on the loss of another trophy opportunity, Alonso immediately turned his attention to Chelsea’s Premier League campaign.
Alonso downplays the importance of the Carabao Cup
According to Fabrizio Romano, Alonso said after the defeat: “This is the most important competition for us.”
Then he added: “The main focus is the Premier League”
The comments were also published by The Guardian, with Alonso stressing that Chelsea need to change their mindset quickly due to limited recovery time before their next league match.
Chelsea’s official website struck a slightly more positive tone, with Alonso praising his players’ courage and competitiveness at Anfield despite their elimination.
The Blues took the lead through Morgan Rogers before Cody Gakpo equalized for Liverpool.
There was still criticism of Alonso’s management on the night. Clinton Morrison and Jobi McAnuff question why Estevao Willian remains an unused substitute despite Chelsea needing an attacking spark.
This sounds like the excuse of the Chelsea manager
There is nothing particularly plausible about Alonso’s preference for the Premier League.
Chelsea are fifth in the table and their next match against struggling Manchester United suddenly takes on greater importance after back-to-back defeats to Tottenham and Liverpool.
However, calling the Carabao Cup the “most important” competition is still a risky message.
Chelsea have a squad built to challenge for trophies and supporters are unlikely to turn down a real opportunity to win silverware with bigger competitions still to come.
The real question is what happens next.
If Chelsea respond by climbing up the Premier League table and nearing the top, Alonso’s comments will be quickly forgotten. But if the league’s form deteriorates, this defeat will be seen as a wasted opportunity rather than a smart sacrifice.
Alonso actually raised the stake himself. Having clearly declared the Premier League a priority, Chelsea must now prove they can succeed there.
The BBC expert believes that the Liverpool star is playing the best football of his career after the Chelsea game.