Chelsea can’t catch a break with injuries this season because Benoit Badiashile has now suffered a fresh problem, which leaves supporters wondering how they’ll line up without him.
Blues centre-back Benoit Badiashile, 24, missed the opening weeks of the 2025-26 season with a muscle injury. However, he showed his qualities as a ball-playing central defender with a few strong displays before October’s international break.
In particular, Frank Leboeuf hailed Badiashile after his dominant performance in the 2-1 win over Liverpool in the Premier League.
Unfortunately, Badiashile faces another spell watching from the sidelines. On Friday morning, Blues head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed via Chelsea’s official website: “Benoit will be out until December. He is injured again with a muscle problem. He was doing fantastic, showing how good he is, and how we need him. So we will wait for him.”
It follows the crushing news that Cole Palmer is expected to miss the next six weeks with his ongoing groin injury.
Benoit Badiashile playing for Chelsea against Benfica in the Champions League.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Chelsea fans suggest Jorrel Hato should replace Benoit Badiashile
On Saturday afternoon, Chelsea travel to face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League without some important players, particularly in defence. Badiashile and Levi Colwill, two left-footed centre-halves in the squad, are both on the treatment table.
According to Blues fans on X, Jorrel Hato is the perfect solution to the injury problem.
One fan wrote: “Jorrel Hato should play LCB. He should be okay against Forest.”
“This is where Jorrel Hato comes in,” another posted.
One supporter claimed: “This Benoit Badiashile injury is a really tough one for the squad. Only other natural LCB is now Jorrel Hato, who will now be forced into more starts if we look to continue in a 2-3 build-up for certain games.”
“Bad news. Benoit Badiashile turned our form around. And this means Trevoh Chalobah is starting despite being our worst CB who is in terrible form. Jorrel Hato really should be starting as a LCB over him,” another said.
Hato, who’s nominated for the Golden Ball award, is a talented youngster with the versatility to cover left-back or centre-half.
So far this season, the 19-year-old defender has been slowly eased into action during his first year in English football, making five appearances across all competitions. It included a cameo at centre-half against Liverpool when Badiashile was forced off.
While the left-footer does have the profile to be the replacement in the heart of defence, it would be a huge decision from Maresca to make the teenager a key starter.
Jorrel Hato playing for Chelsea against Liverpool in the Premier League.
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
The Chelsea options at centre-back
Even though there are injuries to Chelsea’s squad, they still have plenty of different options available to them in central defence.
Josh Acheampong
Tosin Adarabioyo
Trevoh Chalobah
Wesley Fofana
Jorrel Hato
We are fascinated to see who emerges as the preferred starting partnership in the upcoming games. At this moment, it feels like it could be anybody.
There are plenty of league and cup games ahead for Maresca to rotate, but it’s so important he finds a combination and sticks with it for a spell.