Emiliano Martínez was stretchered off the pitch at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, October 17, 2026, casting a shadow over what was otherwise a bright afternoon for Chelsea against Everton. Manager Xabi Alonso addressed the goalkeeper's condition at his post-match press conference, keeping it brief and honest: "As far as I know, he left the stadium conscious. He's in the hospital doing tests. This is what I know so far."
With medical examinations still ongoing at the time of Alonso's comments, Chelsea and their supporters were left in a holding pattern. The club confirmed Martínez was conscious when he departed the ground, but the full picture of his injury was not yet clear. Further updates were expected once the test results came in.
On the pitch, Chelsea gave their fans something to smile about. Alonso's side kept a clean sheet against Everton, their first shutout of the 2026/27 season and their first since January 2026, ending a run of 23 games without one. That kind of defensive discipline is exactly what the Blues have been chasing, and Saturday's result offers a real foundation to build on.
Still, the mood around the club is understandably cautious. A goalkeeper being carried off on a stretcher is never easy to shake, no matter the scoreline. All eyes now turn to what those hospital tests reveal.
Originally published by NotJustOk.