Enzo Maresca is taking a press conference ahead of Chelsea’s game against Fulham on Boxing Day, and as always the first key piece of information was injury updates.
The Blues certainly don’t have a crisis on their hands – not compared to some other teams, or their issues of the last couple of years – but as the fixtures pile up so have the fitness problems, and there are a few starters we would love to have back.
Romeo Lavia has followed up last year – where he missed the whole campaign – with one where he’s been constantly in and out with minor issues. His latest one has ruled him out for a while – he came off at half time in the win over Tottenham at the start of this month and hasn’t been seen since. Given we don’t have other midfielders with his profile, we’re keen to get him back. And while he doesn’t sound far away, Maresca also made it clear that he won’t be ready for the match in 48 hours time:
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Enzo Maresca on the touchline in the win over Shamrock Rovers. (Photo by: Crystal Pix/MB Media)
Enzo Maresca applauds the home fans. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Benoit Badiashile playing in a preseason friendly against Wrexham.
“He is still recovering. It is much better but unfortunately he is not ready for the next game,” the manager explained, declining to give any more detail than that.
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Romeo Lavia in midfield for Chelsea against Liverpool.
Romeo Lavia in midfield for Chelsea against Liverpool.
When taking Lavia off in the game against Spurs, Maresca had explained it as precautionary:
“Unfortunately, he felt something in his hamstring in the last minutes of the first-half. I don’t like to lose players for five, six or seven games in a row, even if Romeo was fantastic in the first-half.”
But as it turns out, he’s already missed 4 games, and after the Fulham match it will be 5.
We hope these issues with the Belgian sort themselves out over time – there’s nothing more frustrating than a player you can’t rely on to be fit consistently.