Chelsea hit by DOUBLE defensive blow as Xabi Alonso’s plans take a major injury hit in pre-season

CHELSEA’S new manager Xabi Alonso has been dealt a double injury blow ahead of the new season. Alonso, 44, has been tasked with bringing the Blues back on their feet after a chaotic season that saw three managerial changes and a tenth-place finish. Mamadou Sarr got injured before Chelsea’s friendly against Johor Darul Ta’zim started Credit: Alamy Aaron Anselmino got injured during Chelsea’s pre-season friendly Credit: Getty Images – Getty However, the Spanish tactician has endured a turbulent pre-season that has seen him dealing with a bloated squad and two friendly losses to rivals Tottenham and Juventus. And now the ex-Real Madrid boss saw two defenders limp off during the West Londoners’ penultimate friendly against Johor Darul Ta’zim. Sign up for the Chelsea newsletter Thank you! Mamadou Sarr pulled out injured just before kick-off after being named in Chelsea’s starting line-up. And Aaron Anselmino was then forced off injured midway in the first half played in Malaysia. Neither Sarr, 20, nor Anselmino, 21, have been key players for the Premier League giants. The defensive pair were also not being primed for Chelsea’s first team ahead of the 2026/27 season. Sarr joined the Blues from Strasbourg in 2025 but was immediately sent back to the sister club on loan until this past February when he came back to Stamford bridge. The centre-back currently counts a mere total of six appearances with the West Londoners. Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Anselmino, on the other hand, joined Chelsea in 2024 from Boca Juniors but was loaned back to the Argentinean giants before undergoing some more short stints at Borussia Dortmund and Strasbourg. The centre-back has only managed one appearance across all competitions with the Prem outfit in which he only played three minutes. Alonso already has a raft of options to choose from at centre-half, which includes the likes of Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Josh Acheampong and summer signing Maxence Lacroix. Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Axel Disasi are also still in Chelsea’s books but look set to move away during the summer transfer window. Chelsea’s new manager Xabi Alonso has been dealt a double injury blow Credit: Getty Images – Getty Comment now