Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has just confirmed a piece of bad injury news regarding two first-team stars.
In general, the Chelsea squad has been a lot more fortunate with injuries this year compared to the previous season. However, there’s a few problems piling up now during an extremely busy time of the year.
Enzo Maresca has rotated and used his squad extremely smartly in the first half of the season, so we expect him to keep doing so during the festive run-in.
Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana of Chelsea celebrate with goalscorer Nicolas Jackson during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC ...
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Enzo Maresca gives update on Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana
Unfortunately, Maresca has confirmed in his press conference that Chelsea centre-backs Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana both remain unavailable due to respective injuries.
In fact, it turns out that the two central defenders won’t play again in 2024.
When asked for an update on Badiashile and Fofana, Maresca said via Football.London: “Both they are still out and both will still be out for a long period.”
So they won’t be back before January?: “Yeah.”
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Fofana, 24, has been a main starter for the Blues this season when fit. However, he’s not played since 1 December because of a hamstring problem.
Chelsea’s Fofana was pictured in the gym in early December, but he’s not being rushed back from his latest issue. It’s extra frustrating for him because he’s had several spells on the sidelines with injuries during his career already.
As for Badiashile, the 23-year-old centre-half has been unavailable since 8 December with his own injury.
Can Chelsea cope without both?
Fofana and Badiashile are two of the senior centre-backs at the club, so how will Chelsea deal without the pair for an even longer period?
Thankfully, Levi Colwill is fit and the star man in the heart of defence. There’s still other options in the squad to partner him at the back, too.
Tosin Adarabioyo solves the Chelsea dilemma in defence by stepping in as a towering and authoritative centre-back. Elsewhere, the Blues could even turn towards Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga or Josh Acheampong if they need.
Maresca has managed to deal with everything that’s been thrown at him so far during his time at Chelsea, so supporters should feel confident that he’ll find the right solution.
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