Caballero Defends Substitution Decisions Amidst Chelsea’s Struggles

Chelsea’s assistant coach, Willy Caballero, defended the decision to substitute Cole Palmer during the recent 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, despite the furious reaction from supporters at Stamford Bridge. The crowd expressed their discontent with chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” when Palmer, one of Chelsea’s standout performers, was taken off in the 63rd minute while the team sought a winning goal to improve their dismal Premier League form.

Currently, Chelsea has recorded only one league victory in their last seven matches. Following the game, Caballero reaffirmed that head coach Enzo Maresca, who was unable to attend the post-match media duties due to illness, remains a vital example for everyone at the club. However, the pressure is mounting on the Italian manager as Chelsea has dropped 13 points at home from winning positions, allowing another result to slip away.

Tensions escalated particularly when Palmer, who had recently returned from a lengthy injury, was substituted in the second half. Caballero explained, “Any supporter wants to have the best players on the pitch, and we share that desire. However, Cole is coming back from a significant injury. In this situation, we must make prudent substitutions to pursue the game while also safeguarding our players’ health. Our goal is to have them available for the remainder of the season.”

Regarding Maresca’s absence, Caballero noted, “He has not felt well over the past two days, experiencing a slight fever. He participated in the last two training sessions, eager to prepare the team. However, after the game, he approached me to take his place due to his condition. He is handling the situation professionally, dedicating long hours daily even while feeling unwell. He is passionate about training and coaching, serving as an example for our staff.”

The match began with Bournemouth taking an early lead through David Brooks, who scored on the second attempt after a save from Robert Sánchez. Chelsea equalized with a penalty from Palmer, and Enzo Fernández then put the hosts ahead. Yet again, Chelsea could not maintain their advantage, with Justin Kluivert equalizing just before halftime after Chelsea failed to respond to a long throw-in by Antoine Semenyo.

Speculation has surrounded whether this would be Semenyo’s final appearance for Bournemouth ahead of a potential transfer to Manchester City; before departing the pitch, he appeared to bid farewell to traveling fans. Nevertheless, head coach Andoni Iraola expressed confidence that Semenyo would be available for the upcoming match against Arsenal. “It’s not his last game with us,” Iraola stated. “While I cannot guarantee it, I believe he will play. He needs to recover, as we have faced two demanding matches in three days. We are preparing for another challenging game against the leaders, and he will definitely be an important player for us.”