Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Romeo Lavia managed to complete 90 minutes for the first time in a Chelsea shirt against AC Milan.
Romeo Lavia looked composed and sharp against AC Milan, breaking up play and finally grinding out a full 90 minutes. That milestone means everything considering his awful luck with injuries.
Since his £58m move in 2023, recurring hamstring, thigh, and quad problems turned his Chelsea spell into a nightmare, forcing him to miss over 80 matches. Every time he built momentum, his body let him down.
Pedro Neto's display vs AC Milan
Photo by Peksi Cahyo/Getty Images
Pushing through absolute exhaustion to finish the game wasn’t just great for his legs, it was a huge mental hurdle cleared as he looks to finally stay fit.
With Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Valentin Barco also fighting for places, it’s important that he pushes on if he wants regular minutes this season.
Xabi Alonso shares hurdle Romeo Lavia has faced at Chelsea
In his post-match press conference, Xabi Alonso gave his assessment of Romeo Lavia, which centered around the fact that he’s had a mental block when it comes to playing 90 minutes.
“Romeo has this mental block when it comes to playing 90 minutes, he was tired but I said let him play, let him play, let him do the 90 and he finishes exhausted, I think that he is really happy”
It’s understandable to be exhausted after completing your first 90 minutes in years, but it’s a step in the right direction for Lavia and an important milestone.
He ran the midfield with ruthless efficiency, misplacing just two passes on the day to post an incredible 97% pass accuracy.
He went a flawless 6-for-6 on long balls, drove five passes into the attacking third, and did the dirty work without breaking stride, snatching eight ball recoveries, winning four out of six duels, and making a key tackle to keep Chelsea firmly in charge.