Chelsea’s Xabi Alonso confirms Joao Pedro to undergo late fitness test before match against Brentford

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Joao Pedro will face a late fitness assessment ahead of the club’s Premier League fixture against Brentford on September 18, 2026. The 24-year-old Brazilian is carrying knee discomfort sustained during Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Hull City five days earlier, leaving his participation in genuine doubt. Alonso, speaking at his pre-match press conference on September 17, struck a cautious tone while leaving the door open. Pedro “could still feature,” the manager said, but emphasized that a final decision would only be made after Friday’s training session. How the injury happened The knee problem emerged during Chelsea’s draw with Hull City on September 13. Pedro played the full 90 minutes and scored on the day. Once the final whistle went, however, the discomfort became significant enough that Pedro pulled out of the Brazil international squad entirely. He was replaced in the national team setup by Matheus Martinelli, a substitution that confirmed the injury was serious enough to warrant genuine caution rather than a precautionary rest. Why Pedro matters so much right now Three goals and three assists in four Premier League appearances is the...