Chelsea faced questions over a pre-match leaked lineup when screenshots circulated claiming Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro would miss a game at Brighton, with the post attributed to Marc Cucurellaās barber and featuring a photo of his hair. The club did not deny the postās authenticity, marking a third such leak since Liam Roseniorās January appointment, and underscoring ongoing sensitivities around team-news security. Chelsea, sitting seventh with four league matches left, were preparing for an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds as the leak episode added to a pattern of off-field distractions. The episode highlights persistent challenges in safeguarding pre-match information while maintaining competitive focus as the season nears its end.
Dive Deeper:
Post on social media X claimed Palmer and Joao Pedro would be unavailable due to injuries, and it was said to originate from Cucurellaās barber, accompanied by a photo of the defenderās hair.
Palmerās hamstring status was not publicly known prior to the match, while Joao Pedro had undergone a fitness test that morning, adding to the intrigue surrounding the lineup.
The post and its account were deleted, and while independent verification is impossible, Chelsea did not deny its authenticity when asked for comment.
This marks the third instance of Chelsea team-news leaks since Roseniorās January appointment, with earlier leaks linked to their Champions League ties against Paris SaintāGermain.
Rosenior has described his pre-match briefings as deliberately guarded, and he has said leaks did not originate from any malicious intent toward the team.
BBC Sport contacted the barber and Cucurellaās representatives for comment as Chelsea prepared for a Premier League schedule and an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds at Wembley.
Chelsea are positioned seventh in the Premier League with four league games remaining, intensifying the stakes around securing a strong finish and managing information security ahead of key fixtures.