{
  "id": 8389767,
  "title": "EPL: Why I played 3 teenagers against Brentford – Chelsea coach, Alonso",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/epl-why-i-played-3-teenagers-against-brentford-chelsea-coach-alonso",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T05:54:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/19/epl-why-i-played-3-teenagers-against-brentford-chelsea-coach-alonso/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso provided insight into his decision to field three young players against Brentford in the Premier League match on Friday. After a 3-0 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium, Alonso brought on Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli (16), Geovany Quenda (19), and Estevao Willian (19) in the second half. At his post-match press conference, Alonso explained that he introduced these youngsters due to a shortage of players in midfield, stating, \"Yeah, with 2-0 we brought Mahdi [Nicoll-Jazuli] because he has great energy, that at the moment in the middle we were short of numbers.\" Alonso also stated that the other teenagers were part of the squad and had received good training, saying, \"The other ones are Geo [Quenda] and Estevao. Yeah, because they have been trained well, they are part of the squad.\" Chelsea will face Bournemouth in their upcoming Premier League match at Stamford Bridge following the international break.",
  "summary": "Chelsea head coach, Xabi Alonso, has explained why he played three teenagers against Brentford in the Premier League on Friday. Alonso watched as Brentford defeated Chelsea 3-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium. The former Real Madrid manager opted to bring on youngsters Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli (16), Geovany Quenda (19) and Estevao Willian (19) in the second half […] EPL: Why I played 3 teenagers…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Brentford hammer London neighbours Chelsea 3-0",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/brentford-hammer-london-neighbours-chelsea-3-0",
        "published": "2026-09-18T21:11:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "EPL: Brentford batter Chelsea 3-0 to dent Alonso’s promising start",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/epl-brentford-batter-chelsea-3-0-to-dent-alonsos-promising-start",
        "published": "2026-09-18T21:32:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "EPL: Chelsea’s title hopes suffer huge blow after 3-0 defeat to Brentford",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/epl-chelseas-title-hopes-suffer-huge-blow-after-3-0-defeat-to",
        "published": "2026-09-18T21:47:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Brentford substitute leaves Chelsea stunned",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/brentford-substitute-leaves-chelsea-stunned",
        "published": "2026-09-18T22:32:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Brentford substitute leaves Chelsea stunned",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/brentford-substitute-leaves-chelsea-stunned-8326043",
        "published": "2026-09-18T22:32:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "'Everything was disappointing' - Alonso on Brentford defeat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/everything-was-disappointing-alonso-on-brentford-defeat",
        "published": "2026-09-18T22:39:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Brentford thump Chelsea 3-0 as Alonso’s defensive woes deepen",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/brentford-thump-chelsea-3-0-as-alonsos-defensive-woes-deepen",
        "published": "2026-09-19T01:19:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Brentford thump Chelsea 3-0 with second-half blitz",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/brentford-thump-chelsea-3-0-with-second-half-blitz",
        "published": "2026-09-19T04:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}