Overview
- Brazil’s federation announced on Wednesday that Joao Pedro has pulled out of Carlo Ancelotti’s September squad with an unspecified injury and Fluminense’s Matheus Martinelli was called up as his replacement.
- Pedro was absent from the public portion of Chelsea’s training earlier in the week, which prompted immediate questions about his short‑term fitness for Friday’s Premier League trip to Brentford.
- Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso said no player is definitively ruled out and that the club will decide Pedro’s availability after the final training session, adding that it is a possibility he could play.
- Pedro has started the season in exceptional form, registering three goals and three assists in the league so far, which makes his availability central to Chelsea’s attack alongside Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers.
- The club is also managing other fitness concerns, with Reece James and Moises Caicedo missing part of training, a situation that increases the chance Chelsea may rest players or rely on squad alternatives such as Danny Welbeck.