According to a report by the Evening Standard on Saturday, October 24, 2026, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has revealed that he plans to hold a conversation with Cole Palmer following the midfielder’s dismissal in the Blues’ 2-0 Premier League loss to Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.

Palmer was shown two yellow cards within a space of less than 10 minutes during Saturday’s London derby, adding to Chelsea’s difficulties as they struggled to compete against their rivals.

The England international received his first booking after an incident involving Tottenham midfielder Mateus Fernandes before being cautioned again for a challenge on Conor Gallagher, resulting in his dismissal.

His red card came while Chelsea were already behind after goalkeeper Mike Penders scored an own goal on his full Premier League debut. Tottenham eventually sealed the victory five minutes before the final whistle through an impressive individual effort from Mathys Tel.

Speaking after the game, Alonso admitted that Palmer’s dismissal was justified, although he acknowledged that he had not personally reviewed the incidents. The Chelsea manager explained that he had been told the decision was correct and insisted that his players needed to show greater maturity when dealing with challenging situations on the pitch.

Alonso confirmed that he would examine the incidents before speaking with Palmer directly. He stressed that the midfielder needed to learn from the experience and avoid making similar mistakes in future matches.

The Spanish manager also highlighted the importance of discipline, particularly when Chelsea were trying to recover from a difficult position. According to Alonso, the team still had around 15 to 20 minutes to respond after conceding the opening goal and needed to remain calm to give themselves a chance of equalising.

He further acknowledged that Chelsea must improve their discipline, revealing that the issue had already been discussed with the squad on Friday. Alonso explained that players must understand the implications of receiving an initial yellow card and recognise how their subsequent actions can affect both themselves and the team.

Chelsea have struggled with disciplinary issues in recent seasons, and Alonso is keen to ensure that such problems do not continue to affect their performances during the current campaign.

Palmer’s dismissal will also influence Chelsea’s preparations for their upcoming fixtures, as the midfielder is expected to miss Wednesday’s Carabao Cup last-16 encounter against Liverpool at Anfield due to suspension.

The Blues will subsequently turn their attention to next weekend’s Premier League meeting with Manchester United, with Alonso needing to assess his attacking options while considering Palmer’s availability.

Despite the setback, Palmer remains an important figure at Chelsea, having recently signed a new long-term contract with the club. Alonso will now hope the midfielder responds positively to the incident as the Blues look to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Tottenham and demonstrate greater discipline in their forthcoming matches.