Ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Qarabag, Enzo Maresca has provided a positive update on Romeo Lavia.
Lavia’s Chelsea career has been continuously hampered by injuries, but there’s no doubting the 21-year-old’s talent.
He’s now fit, and there have been plenty of calls for him to be put back in the lineup. When he’s on it, the Belgian is as silky as they come and a formidable layer of protection for the back four. Lavia looks up to Claude Makelele, and you can see that in his tenacious nature out of possession.
Maresca says he is almost back to full fitness, but his return gives the Chelsea boss an unenviable task.
Enzo Maresca and Romeo Lavia speaking after Chelsea against Manchester United in the Premier League.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Enzo Maresca must figure out his best midfield as Romeo Lavia returns
In the last few games Lavia has started racking up minutes, but Maresca is cautious not to rush him back.
At his pre-match press conference, the Chelsea boss spoke about his recent performances.
He says: “In the Forest game, we planned for him 45 minutes. Then Ajax, I think he played one hour, 70 minutes. The other day against Tottenham, when he was on, he was very good. We are happy with Romeo.
“We are happy with the way he’s progressing. And the only thing we want is to keep him fit.”
That’s all well and good, but the quality Lavia possesses merits more minutes than he’s getting currently.
Given his tragic injury record, the hesitance to thrust him back in is understandable, but only in the interim. And the Italian’s words suggest he will be seen as a starter once he’s bedded back in fully.
As he explains: “I would like to have Romeo inside the pitch always. But it’s my duty to try to protect him.”
It sounds like Lavia is first-choice material in his mind, but that gives Maresca a dilemma.
Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia check on Moises Caicedo after the Chelsea midfielder suffers an injury at the Club World Cup.
Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Until Cole Palmer returns, Enzo Fernandez can keep playing a more advanced role. Eventually, though, a decision will have to be made between Lavia and Fernandez to join Moises Caicedo in a midfield two. Who will get the nod for the biggest games?
It’s such a tough call that even we don’t have an answer. Fernandez has been excellent recently and offers much more going forward, but a double-pivot of Lavia and Caicedo is as solid as you’ll find anywhere in Europe.
You wouldn’t envy Maresca having to make that call.
Maresca compares Lavia to Reece James
That decision will only need to be made if Lavia can finally put together an extended period of fitness.
Maresca understands this and is desperate to have the Belgian at his disposal. He draws comparisons between Lavia and Reece James — who has had similar injury woes of late.
Chelsea FC v Manchester City - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
As he explains: “For me, at this moment, Romeo is where Reece was more or less one year ago in terms of back after a long time. We need to manage him every minute, every day, every second. And the target with him is just to keep him fit.
“So, he’s training with us. He’s OK. He’s 100% fit. But we need to be very careful with him because we don’t want him to be out again and finally he can enjoy being a football player.”
Injuries are a part of football, but the Blues seem to have suffered more than most, with the likes of James, Lavia and Wesley Fofana unable to stay fit for long.
If they can all avoid more time on the sideline, it does make Maresca’s selection more difficult, but it also makes Chelsea a much more dangerous proposition.