Joe Cole has stressed the importance of Chelsea losing Levi Colwill to a long-term injury in pre-season.
The Chelsea defence has been a concern so far this campaign, conceding nine times in seven Premier League matches. Perhaps the absence of Levi Colwill, 22, could be one possible explanation for the frailty in the backline.
Unfortunately, Colwill suffered an ACL injury in the first training session of pre-season ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
The English centre-half played a key role in Enzo Maresca’s side last term, playing 43 games across all competitions. Without him right now, the Blues are desperately searching for the right partnership in central defence.
Levi Colwill playing for Chelsea against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final.
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Joe Cole calls Levi Colwill injury a major blow
According to Joe Cole, Chelsea’s season suffered a significant blow before a ball was even kicked when Colwill went down with a long-term injury problem.
Cole told TNT Sports Football: “I think losing Levi Colwill just before the season started was massive… You know when centre-halves – you look at them and you go, ‘They’ve got to that level; they get it’ – like it happens with all the great centre-halves, like Rio [Ferdinand], from the player who’s at West Ham to the one who went to Leeds and then to Man United. John Terry eventually, they all get there. Levi Colwill for six games, I thought he was there now; he’s going to be top. So that was a big blow, and not replacing him is a massive blow.”
Even though there are several senior centre-backs at Stamford Bridge, none of them are on Colwill’s peak level. It is up to the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana and Josh Acheampong to step up.
Back in August, Maresca publicly admitted Chelsea needed to sign another centre-back because of the Colwill injury, but he was ignored by the ownership and sporting directors in the summer transfer window.
Reports in September claimed that Maresca remains adamant on signing a new central defender.
Joe Cole working as a pundit at a Premier League match.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Enzo Maresca needs settled defensive partnership
We don’t see too much between all of Chelsea’s options at centre-back right now.
If Maresca wants to try and find some consistency in defence, he should pick a preferred pairing and give them a run of consecutive games together. Of course, the various cup competitions will still allow for some rotation and opportunities.
Acheampong deserves more minutes because the youngster has impressed whenever he’s featured, but he would benefit from a senior figure alongside him.