Romeo Lavia’s night at the Chelsea F.C. clash in Baku ended almost as soon as it began. The Belgian midfielder was limping just in eight minutes into the game. Manager Enzo Maresca has now given terrible update. This is a frustrating news for both Lavia and the club.
Injury strikes early
Lavia was named in the starting XI against Qarabag FK. But he was replaced almost immediately by Moises Caicedo after struggling. He pulled up on the pitch during a duel. He then walked off limping. The worry is now a suspected quad injury.
🚨⚠️ Maresca: “We feel a shame for Romeo Lavia. He's not able to be fit for a long, long period”.
“We will see now. It's too early to understand what kind of injury. I think it's his quad”, says via @BobbyVincentFL. pic.twitter.com/OLwgoQRrfp
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 5, 2025
Maresca’s honest verdict
Maresca didn’t hide his concern. “We feel very ashamed, especially for him, because he’s not able to be fit for a long, long period,” he said. He went on: “It’s too early to understand what kind of injury. I think it’s a quad injury.” The language was blunt, underlining how serious this could become.
Lavia’s ongoing fitness battle
This isn’t Lavia’s first major injury struggle. He moved to Chelsea from Southampton FC in 2023. He has been side-lined repeatedly. Lavia has made only 30 appearances for the club so far. He is yet to consistently stay fit.
What this means for Chelsea
For Chelsea this injury is more than just a missing player. It tests squad depth, forces rotation, and adds pressure on Maresca’s tactical plans. With Lavia out, the club’s central midfield options shrink further and the weight falls on Caicedo, Enzo Fernández and Andrey Santos to carry the load.
Author’s Insight
Lavia’s situation is tricky. He has talent, promise, and a high price tag — yet the injuries keep piling up. For Chelsea, the challenge is two-fold. They have to support Lavia’s recovery smartly. Also they have to make a squad that doesn’t falter when one player drops out. For the player himself, the path forward is clear. He has to stay patient, focus on fitness, make every return count.
If he can finally string together a long run of games, he could become the midfield anchor Chelsea hoped for. Until then, the club and fans will be hoping this latest setback is a small delay — not a pattern returning.
As featured on Chelseanews.com