as the centre-back was forced to make an early exit around the 60th minute. The incident occurred after Chalobah appeared to sustain an ankle injury during a defensive challenge, immediately prompting concern among his teammates and the medical staff.
Play was briefly halted as the Chelsea physios rushed onto the field to assess the extent of the damage. Despite being able to stand and eventually limp off without the aid of a stretcher, Chalobah’s discomfort was evident. The club’s medical team decided it was not worth taking any risks in what was still a pre-season game, preferring to withdraw him from the action and begin treatment straight away rather than risk aggravating the injury.
For manager Enzo Maresca, this is the last thing he would have wanted so close to the start of the Premier League campaign. His options in central defence are already stretched thin. Rising star Levi Colwill has suffered a devastating ACL injury that will keep him out for the majority of the season, robbing Maresca of a key defensive talent. Meanwhile, fellow centre-back Benoît Badiashile remains sidelined with a separate injury and is not expected to be back in contention until at least September.
With competitive fixtures just around the corner and the demands of domestic and European competitions looming, Maresca faces the prospect of starting the new season with a patched-up backline. The hope within the club will be that Chalobah’s ankle problem proves to be a minor setback rather than a long-term absence, allowing him to recover quickly and help stabilise Chelsea’s already fragile defensive situation.
