Alonso urges Chelsea to move on after Enzo Fernandez exit to Man City

The Argentina midfielder left Stamford Bridge in a British-record deal before the transfer window closed on Tuesday, bringing an end to a long-running saga around his future.

Chelsea had hoped to respond by signing Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, but that deal collapsed when the Ligue 1 club pulled out because the paperwork was not completed before the deadline.

Alonso does not want the missed opportunity to become the story.

Chelsea travel to Premier League champions Arsenal on Sunday looking to preserve their perfect start to the new season, and the Blues boss said the squad must now focus on what is ahead rather than what has gone.

“We make every decision together,” Alonso said in his pre-match press conference. “We are responsible for every decision, big or small, through collaboration from both sides.”

He stressed that Chelsea’s thinking has always been centred on building the strongest possible group.

“We know that the ultimate aim is to bring the best for the team, for the whole squad, for the daily work here. We want to build a good spirit and a strong team, and we always make decisions thinking about achieving that.”

Alonso admitted that football can change quickly, but said his conversations with Fernandez had remained respectful throughout the process.

“In football, many things can happen, and you have to be ready for every situation,” he said. “Enzo and I had conversations, but always with mutual respect.”

He also made clear that the midfielder leaves with Chelsea’s gratitude.

“What he did for the club was great, and we are very grateful, but now it is time to move forward. We have a lot of strong personalities, quality players in different positions, and now we are ready.”

Alonso declined to give further detail on why the Camara deal fell through, instead insisting he remains satisfied with Chelsea’s options.

“I think we are well prepared and happy with the squad, the depth and the healthy competition in the different positions,” he said. “It is a good balance between players at different stages of their careers.”

He added that the group must use the week to build the energy needed for the weekend, especially with a major test at the Emirates now waiting.

“So far, it has only been 2 matches, but it has been a good start. Now we know clearly who our opponents are, and it is good to have that certainty.”

Chelsea’s squad has changed significantly over the summer, but Alonso believes the club have achieved much of what they set out to do.

“We can be very happy with the whole transfer window,” he said. “A lot of the things we started discussing at the end of May and start of June, we achieved.”

One remaining concern is Moises Caicedo, who came off late in the match against Brighton. Alonso will assess the midfielder before deciding whether he can feature against Arsenal.