Conte: Chelsea have a problem now Alonso is banned

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Antonio Conte has admitted that Marcos Alonso being suspended leaves Chelsea with a problem ahead of the EFL Cup game against Bournemouth.

Alonso was the Blues’ hero against Southampton at Stamford Bridge, where he produced an outstanding performance and scored the winner with brilliant free-kick.

However, a yellow card the Spaniard picked up was his fifth of the season, meaning he must now serve a ban and will be unavailable for Wednesday’s quarter-final.

And Davide Zappacosta, who came on as a late substitute against Southampton and has previously filled in for Alonso on the left, is a doubt for the Bournemouth game because of a recent illness.

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Blues boss Conte explained: “I prefer to have all my players available because now we also have to play a quarter-final.

“Now there is a problem, because Zappacosta is recovering from bad flu. It can happen. We must be ready to overcome this difficulty.”

Conte praised his players after the 1-0 win against the Saints but bemoaned their inability to score second goal.