Alonso hits back at Tuchel: Palmer was right to pull out of England

📰 Xabi Alonso has effectively answered Thomas Tuchel's criticism of Cole Palmer's England withdrawal. 📌 Key points 🗣️ Alonso: 'With Cole, it was the right decision.' ⚠️ Tuchel had said Palmer misses 'way too many camps with injuries'. 🩺 Chelsea used the two-week break to treat last season's pubalgia. 🏴 Palmer has three caps under Tuchel and missed the World Cup squad. ✅ Palmer is fit for Saturday's game against Bournemouth. 📝 What happened ⚠️ Palmer pulled out of England's squad for the Nations League games against Spain, Czechia and Croatia. Tuchel cited 'pain and discomfort' but also said Palmer misses 'way too many camps with injuries'. 🗣️ At his pre-Bournemouth press conference on 9 October, Alonso said: 'With Cole, it was the right decision.' He argued Palmer would not have played at his best level with England and said the club spent two weeks helping him recover from the pubalgia he suffered last season. 🤝 He also rejected the idea that Palmer lacks commitment: 'He's committed but he has to be fully fit to play. He has trained the last week, he has felt better.' Alonso expects him to play for England again. 🏴 Palmer has played three times for England since Tuchel took over in January 2025 and was left out of the 2026 World Cup squad. Without him, Saka, Bellingham, Gordon and Kane led the attack, and he faces competition from Gibbs-White, Eze, Rogers, Foden and Madueke for the November squad. 📊 By the numbers • Palmer's England caps under Tuchel (since January 2025): 3 • Chelsea's winless league run: 3 games (last league win on 30 August) • Recovery time: the two-week international break 🔭 Why it matters A club coach publicly pushing back at the England manager puts Palmer's place in the November squad back under the spotlight. Alonso also needs Palmer to end a three-game winless league run. Chelsea host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on 10 October.