Hato has been named in Alonso’s starting XI for six of our eight Premier League fixtures this season, but was absent for our midweek Carabao Cup trip to Liverpool.

The Dutch defender will also not feature when Manchester United visit Stamford Bridge for tomorrow's early kick-off, with Alonso confirming the nature of the 20-year-old's issue.

‘How long, we don't know, but he’s not available for tomorrow,’ our manager confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. ‘He has a back problem and he's not feeling okay for tomorrow.’

One player who is available to face United is Cole Palmer, who returns after serving his one-match suspension on Wednesday.

Palmer inspired a brilliant late comeback win over the Red Devils two years ago, when his hat-trick helped secure a dramatic 4-3 victory which will live long in the memory.

Chelsea against Manchester United is always a big occasion, with two of English football’s most successful clubs go head-to-head, and Alonso went explained what the Blues need to do to help Palmer and his fellow attacking players shine once again in the intensity and pressure of a big-game atmosphere.

‘For sure, I think that everyone needs to show their best level in all the games, but in the big ones, sometimes it's harder because the opponent has good quality, because of the quality of the game,’ he added.

‘We need to support the attackers, so that they get the ball in the right place, so that they are involved, so that they are connected to the game and with the rest of the team. So we are all just focused on playing a good game tomorrow.’

Of course, Alonso is no stranger to big games in the Premier League, both as a player and a manager. During his time representing Liverpool, he was involved in many high-pressure encounters with Manchester United, in many of which he came up against fellow midfielder - and current United manager - Michael Carrick.

‘They were top games when I was at Liverpool, and they were intense games,’ the Spaniard recalled.

‘That United team was a top one and I remember playing against Michael. He was one of the finest English midfielders of that time. I really enjoyed playing against him before, at Spurs, and after at United with Paul Scholes. They had a fantastic midfield partnership.

‘So I really enjoyed playing against them and probably they made me a better player.’

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