Our manager made four changes to his line-up for today’s Premier League fixture, one of them enforced by the absence of Henderson from the matchday squad to face the Red Devils.

‘He's ill,’ revealed Alonso. ‘There’s no injury, but he was not feeling well yesterday and today had a fever in the morning, so he was not feeling good enough to come with the team.’

In another of the changes, Alonso has called on Estevao, the Brazilian making his first league start of the 2026/27 season.

When asked why now was the right time, our manager’s response was simple: ‘Because he's ready.

‘Because he's been preparing and training well to be ready any time, whenever he's needed, and today he's needed and we hope that he enjoys his game, and he can have a good impact.’

Estevao looks set to line up in a four-pronged Chelsea attack, alongside Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers. However, when it comes to which of those forwards will lead the line as the central striker, Alonso is keeping his cards close to his chest.

‘It's too early to tell,’ the Spaniard said with a grin. ‘It’s too early, so we will see. It could be Morgan, but we have options.’