Chelsea starlet has “chance to get back on track” – but needs more than just individual coaching

Kendry Paez’s story is turning into a sad cautionary tale of having too much too young, but there’s plenty of time to turn it around.

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Kendry Paez has had his loan at River Plate cancelled, the latest in a succession of unsuccessful spells away from Chelsea.

Xabi Alonso was asked about the 19 year old and said very plainly that he wasn’t in his first team plans. It seems the Ecuador international will basically be training on his own until January when another loan will presumably be attempted. Kieran Gill’s Chelsea Confidential had an update on his status, with the news that the attacker will be at Cobham until January at least, but not with the first team group.

Kendry Paez faces bleak months of training alone

BRAGANCA PAULISTA, BRAZIL – APRIL 30: Kendry Paez of River Plate runs with the ball during the Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026 Group H match between Bragantino and River Plate at Nabi Abi Chedid on April 30, 2026 in Braganca Paulista, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

The piece says that it’s a “chance for Paez to get back on track,” but that really is searching very hard for a silver lining. It’s like saying a kid who has been suspended from school has a chance to get back on track by staying at home with their parents.

There is only so much Chelsea staff can do to help Paez turn his career around. By the sounds of things he needs focus off the pitch, not training drills on it. The question is – how much does the teenager really want it? Perhaps the best effect of 6 months away from playing competitive football is not the time with Chelsea staff, but instead how it will show him how close he is to wasting his talents entirely.

In other news…

The same Mail article had some detail about Marco Palestra, who will be returning from injury soon enough it seems.

A self-flagellant Xabi Alonso blamed himself for Chelsea’s issues in the first half last night. It seems a little harsh.