As was the case last week, the Premier League press conferences are underway early.
Pierre Sage – whose Crystal Palace side contests the Gameweek 2 curtain-raiser against Manchester City – faced the media on Wednesday.
We’ll bring you the key quotes and injury updates from the Eagles’ boss in the article below.
We’ll also round up some bonus cup pressers from the managers of Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea and Fulham.
GAMEWEEK 2 PREMIER LEAGUE PRESSERS
CRYSTAL PALACE
Palace will be without Ismaïla Sarr (groin) and Chadi Riad (knee) for the visit of City to Selhurst Park on Friday night.
Sarr is being heavily linked with a move away from the Eagles but the official line is that he’s injured.
Riad, meanwhile, is feared to have picked up a long-term knee problem after being stretchered off in Gameweek 1.
“Ismaïla Sarr is in individual sessions because he is in pain with his groin, that’s why you didn’t see him [train] with us today. But we’ll prepare him, he needs time. I thought it would be quicker but I am not medical [staff]. That’s why I wait for him, and we’ll prepare him to come back with us.
“Sarr? No, no chance [he can play against Manchester City].” – Pierre Sage on Ismaila Sarr
“For the moment, we need [more] advice from a specialist because it’s always difficult to give a good schedule for this kind of thing. That’s why I prefer to wait, and to give you an official position.” – Pierre Sage on Chadi Riad
New loan arrival Axel Disasi could be set for his Eagles debut, however.
“Now it’s official, so it’s good news for us, especially with what happened with Chadi. That’s why it’s important for us that he came quickly.
“Now, he is ready. He made his first session with us today. We will see if he’s able to play [on Friday] becuase he didn’t play in collective conditions during the beginning of the season, but he’s a football player, he knows his job, and we have the opportunity to help him with time to come in the team.” – Pierre Sage on Axel Disasi
Elsewhere, Sage downplayed talk of any discord with Jean-Philippe Mateta, amid speculation about his contract situation.
“I speak with him every day. In front of me, I have a guy [who is] funny, happy to be here. He gives his best in every session. I didn’t see a player who has a problem with the club or with us, that’s why he played the last game as a starter.
“Now, it’s just a problem that will be resolved. It’s maybe with the man, but not the player, if you want!
“Yeah, I think he will stay.” – Pierre Sage on Jean-Philippe Mateta
EFL CUP/CONFERENCE LEAGUE PRESSERS
CHELSEA
Moises Caicedo and Marco Palestra (both unspecified injuries) remain out for Chelsea’s EFL Cup tie against Luton Town but Xabi Alonso hopes Caicedo can be available for the visit of Brighton this weekend. Palestra needs further assessment.
“Not for tomorrow. Let’s see, hopefully that Moi can make it for the weekend and maybe we need to check a little bit more with Marco.” – Xabi Alonso on whether Marco Palestra and Moises Caicedo will return
Enzo Fernandez will feature against the Hatters, while Cole Palmer is fine after Monday’s substitution.
“No [fresh injury concerns].
“Yes, [Palmer is absolutely fine].” – Xabi Alonso
“We expect that he’s involved. He’s trained, he’s training really well, he’s a good professional, and he will be involved.” – Xabi Alonso on Enzo Fernandez
Wesley Fofana remains suspended.
Given that this is the middle match of a Monday-Thursday-Sunday run for Chelsea, you’d expect Xavi Alonso to ring the changes – but the Blues boss paid the usual lip service when asked about rotating.
“I have to say this year, knowing that we have time for all the competitions, every cup is important, every game and we want to have the best competitive team to face Luton with all the respect that everything deserves and Luton is going to be the first one in Carabao.” – Xabi Alonso
Alonso played the straightest of bats when asked about the futures of Enzo, Liam Delap and Pedro Neto, as well as the performance of Robert Sanchez on Monday.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Yankuba Minteh (leg), Evan Ferguson (ankle), Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring) and Stefanos Tzimas (knee) will miss out again as Brighton prepare for their rematch with Tromso.
Georginio Rutter is also now a concern, having come off against Aston Villa. The Dutchman didn’t train on Wednesday and Fabian Hurzeler says he will be assessed on a day-to-day basis, although it is not a big issue.
“Rutter, we have to see. He has an issue. It’s not a big issue but we have to go really day by day and see how far he will be.
“Let’s see what will be with Rutter tomorrow and also for the weekend, we have to manage him. I can’t say a clean schedule, if he is fit for tomorrow or not. – Fabian Hurzeler
Michael Svoboda was also absent from training.
Someone who was present, however, was Ferdi Kadioglu. The full-back missed Gameweek 1 with a small issue but is now back in the matchday squad.
“With Kadioglu, he will definitely be in the squad.” – Fabian Hurzeler
FULHAM
There were no injury updates in Alvaro Arbeloa’s pre-EFL Cup press conference.
Tom Cairney (knee) remains out but Joachim Andersen returns from a ban.
