Early on in the disappointing 2-2 draw with Qarabag Chelsea fans saw a disappointingly common sight. Romeo Lavia pulled up injured after tracking back and immediately went down the tunnel to receive medical attention. With his latest problem likely causing another setback in his fitness, it is time for the Blues to consider moving on from the midfielder.
Chelsea Should Move on From Romeo Lavia
A Special Talent
It would be ignorant to insist that the midfielder isn’t talented; his press resistance is a great compliment to Moises Caicedo in midfield, and his defending can offer his teammates the chance to move forward. He has a pass completion rate of 92% according to FBRef over the past year. This puts him in the top 5% of midfielders in world football.
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He is also capable defensively, getting 1.65 interceptions per 90 and winning more aerial duels than you’d expect. He is an all-round talent with an exceptional ability on the ball to dictate the play on the pitch. There is no doubt that Chelsea are a better team when they have Lavia in the middle of the park, the problem has been and continues to be his availability.
Unreliable & Injury Prone
The seasons are getting more intense and more hefty than ever, particularly for a team that went deep in the Club World Cup. This makes squad depth vital as players like Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are being loaded up with minutes, they need midfield players capable of allowing them to rest like Andrey Santos.
Unfortunately, Lavia’s injury record has been made worse by the problem suffered by new signing Dario Essugo. The Belgian is the best available option to give Caicedo a rest but with his minutes constantly being managed we have seen the South American play a lot more than he should have. Eventually, that workload will catch up with the Ecuadorian if he isn’t given a consistent deputy.
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To put things into perspective. Since his move in the summer of 2023, the former Southampton man has missed 77 matches for the London club. He has amassed a total of 502 days absent from the squad, this is an insane figure for someone who has only been there for just over 24 months. A ratio of 30 games played to 77 misses is just too much when you’re being relied on to give the star players a rest.
Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku in action against Club America
IMAGO / Icon Sportswire
ATLANTA, GA – JULY 31: Chelsea FC forward Christopher Nkunku 18, Chelsea FC midfielder Romeo Lavia 45 and Club America midfielder Diego Valdes 10 fight for the ball during the soccer match between Chelsea FC and Club America on July 31, 2024 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire SOCCER: JUL 31 Chelsea vs Club America EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon953240731543