Photo by Gabriel Calvino Alonso/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Photo by Gabriel Calvino Alonso/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Chelsea could not get a replacement over the line for Enzo Fernandez, and Moises Caicedo has been injured. Chelsea’s other options have had to step up, and Youri Tielemans thinks one player has.
Xabi Alonso has been forced to play Reece James in midfield, with Caicedo and a replacement for World Cup winner Fernandez missing. Jordan Henderson only returned to action during the loss at Brentford.
It left Alonso with James, Romeo Lavia and Valentin Barco. However, Chelsea’s midfield have stepped up and in particular, Lavia. If that wasn’t clear, just look at his form in a Belgium shirt during the break.
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Man United’s Youri Tielemans heaps praise on Romeo Lavia
Lavia has been a regular for Chelsea in the middle of the park, and is even closing in on finally playing 90 minutes competitively. He almost did for Belgium on Monday night against France, but suffered cramp.
Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson
Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson
The former Man City star is improving with every game he plays, and his stats against France were superb. Lavia made the most tackles and completed all 39 of his passes. Tielemans praised him on Circle Net.
“Very good, very precise on the ball and rock-solid defensively. He tries to play forward. That is all he has shown at Chelsea so far. Today he confirmed that with us. Very happy he is here; we hope he can do that.”
Lavia is finally showing why Chelsea paid £58m for him
Prior to the 2026-27 season, Lavia had managed 43 appearances for Chelsea in three years. Averaging less than 15 games a season after Chelsea splashed a whopping £58m to land his signature from City.
When BlueCo paid the big fee to get Lavia, they might not have expected him to finally start repaying it in his fourth season at the club. But now, Lavia is finally doing that, and Tielemans’ praise is proof of that.
Xabi Alonso will have been nervous watching Lavia limp off on 85 minutes against France, especially having already lost Mike Penders and Jamie Gittens this break. But thankfully for Chelsea, it’s only cramp.
Photo by Federico Pestellini/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Photo by Federico Pestellini/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Split image with four players, which includes: Bruno Guimaraes, Lamine Camara, Alex Scott and Manu Kone
Split image with four players, which includes: Bruno Guimaraes, Lamine Camara, Alex Scott and Manu Kone
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images