Chelsea’s team news today had more interesting notes than usual after a busy week and a gradual accumulation of injuries, illness, suspensions and fitness concerns.
Football London journalist Bobby Vincent has already managed to get some updates on a couple of the missing players. He wrote that Benoit Badiashile (who didn’t make the trip in midweek and was thus expected to start today) has missed out after he “felt something in training.”
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Chelsea warmup training.
Chelsea in preseason before their game against Man City.
A sample London to Astana trip.
Vincent says it’s “hopefully a minor problem.” With Wesley Fofana already out, we’re down to Tosin Adarabioyo at centre back, the last proper senior option available to partner Levi Colwill.
The other missing player is Romeo Lavia. There were suspicions he would be miss today’s game after it was noted he wasn’t in the training midweek.
Perhaps he’s still suffering the after effects of the long-term injury which kept him out for all of last season – but it’s increasingly looking like he’s going to be one of those players who constantly picks up little issues.
Club hopeful Romeo Lavia will be back for Everton match next weekend. #CFC https://t.co/aeNb9oXFar
— Bobby Vincent (@BobbyVincentFL) December 15, 2024
Tyrique George in action against Panathinaikos (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)
Tyrique George in action against Panathinaikos. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)
Chelsea’s options dwindle as busy winter schedule kicks in
The deep squad Chelsea have this season is working wonders. They’re playing a different team in the league to in the cups, and looking so much fresher for it. But even the Blues are starting to feel the strain a little now – there certainly isn’t the usual selection of superstars on the bench for Enzo Maresca to reach for in the second half if things aren’t going his way – but Christopher Nkunku and Tyrique George should be more than enough to cause some trouble to Brentford if the starting attackers can’t get the job done.
It’s moments like this which can bring opportunities for young players like George or Josh Acheampong. Let’s see what happens tonight.