Chelsea have experienced a relatively injury-free season so far, a sharp contrast to the struggles they faced last year. In the previous campaign, injuries forced Mauricio Pochettino to rely heavily on academy players, making it difficult to field a full senior squad during crucial matches.
This season, under Enzo Maresca’s leadership, the injury situation has improved significantly. Reece James remains the only long-term absentee, sidelined for the remainder of 2024 with another hamstring injury. Overall, the team has suffered minimal injuries.
Wesley Fofana Returns to Gym After Injury
Recently, Wesley Fofana joined the injury list after being forced off the pitch in Chelsea’s match against Aston Villa.
Although Fofana downplayed the severity of his injury on social media, Maresca has confirmed that the defender will be out for a few more weeks. Fortunately, Fofana’s recovery is progressing, and he has already returned to the gym, as shown in a recent Instagram post.
Who Will Replace Fofana Against Tottenham?
It was expected that Benoit Badiashile would step in for Fofana in Chelsea’s Premier League match against Tottenham. However, Badiashile was absent from the defensive pairing at St. Mary’s midweek, where Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi took on center-back roles.
The Chelsea Chronicle suggests that Adarabioyo might partner with Levi Colwill in the upcoming London derby, with Badiashile’s absence raising further doubts about his availability.
Transfer Speculation Surrounding Badiashile
Rumors have surfaced suggesting that Marseille is interested in signing Badiashile to strengthen their defense. Despite this, Maresca seems determined to keep the French defender, and Badiashile’s potential inclusion in the starting XI against Tottenham would demonstrate the manager’s confidence in him.
As Chelsea moves through December, maintaining a strong defense will be essential in their pursuit of consistency under Maresca.
