Alonso sympathises with Carrick and urges Palmer to avoid another sending-off

“We don’t want that to happen again.” Alonso said he had spoken with Cole Palmer after his sending-off against Tottenham, while also expressing sympathy for Michael Carrick. With a match against Manchester United approaching, the coach stressed the importance of rediscovering the feeling of winning in the Premier League.

Alonso said he and Palmer had discussed the match and areas of his game he could improve, subjects they address regularly. “Of course, we don’t want the sending-off scenario to happen again,” he said. He also praised Palmer’s qualities, pointing to his football intelligence and enjoyment of the game, which he said were central to their conversation.

Alonso voiced support for Carrick, whose position at Manchester United is under threat, according to Kooora, after a run of eight matches without a win in all competitions. He said he had “a lot of respect” and “a lot of empathy” for him. Alonso recalled that they had known each other as players, but declined to comment on the details of Carrick’s situation.

The upcoming fixture comes with the return to the Premier League, which Alonso regards as his team’s main and most important competition this year, and almost every year. He called it a big match and noted that there had been little time to prepare. After the team’s last home game, the aim is to start winning again and recover that feeling of victory.

Alonso also discussed his side’s preparation after its two most recent results, neither of which he wanted. He felt Wednesday’s performance was better than Saturday’s, while adding that the team had to learn from difficult periods. Against Manchester United, he wants to focus on what his side can control: its preparation, decisions and mindset. He described the opposition as having a strong squad, outstanding players and good coaches, and said his team would have to reach its best level to win.

On team availability, Alonso expects Maxence Lacroix, who was injured during the Blues’ League Cup elimination against Liverpool, to be out for several weeks and unavailable until after the next international break. Emiliano Martínez could return before that break, he said, but his progress will need to be assessed next week. If he is ready to play, the goalkeeper will probably wear a face mask. Alonso also praised Estêvão’s attitude and said the player was training well.