Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that defender Wesley Fofana could miss the rest of the season due to a serious hamstring injury.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that defender Wesley Fofana could miss the rest of the season due to a serious hamstring injury. Fofana, who has been sidelined for over a month, suffered the injury during Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa in December. Maresca revealed that further tests and analysis have shown the injury is worse than initially thought, potentially ruling Fofana out for the entire season.
Injury Update
– Fofana’s Status: Maresca stated that Fofana’s hamstring injury might require surgery, and the defender’s absence will be a significant blow to Chelsea’s season. Since joining Chelsea from Leicester for £70 million in 2022, Fofana has been restricted to just 32 appearances due to injury issues.
– Other Injuries: Chelsea is also dealing with other injuries, including Benoit Badiashile, who is expected to be out until February. Romeo Lavia and Reece James are approaching a return from injury and might be available for the match against Crystal Palace ¹ ².
Potential Replacements
– Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi: Maresca’s preferred replacements for Fofana are Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi, who have been playing in Fofana’s absence.
– Aaron Anselmino: The Chelsea boss is also considering giving young defender Aaron Anselmino a chance to impress. Anselmino was loaned to Boca Juniors in the summer and has returned to Chelsea for training.
Upcoming Match
– Crystal Palace vs Chelsea: Chelsea faces Crystal Palace in the Premier League on August 17, 2025. Maresca will need to carefully consider his team selection, given the injury absences and potential returns ³.
Impact on Chelsea’s Season
– Title Challenge: Chelsea’s title hopes have faded after a run of one point from a possible nine against Everton, Fulham, and Ipswich over the festive period. However, they remain in the top four and are on course for a return to Champions League football next season.
– Maresca’s Expectations: Maresca believes his young squad is still improving and that losing games and dropping points won’t affect their overall journey ².
