Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has provided a worrying update on Roméo Lavia after the midfielder was forced off early in the club’s recent Champions League draw. Lavia sustained the injury just minutes into the match and was replaced shortly thereafter, raising fresh concerns about his recurring fitness issues.
Maresca admitted that the club is still in the early stages of determining the exact extent of the damage, but initial examinations suggest the problem lies in Lavia’s quadriceps rather than being a repeat of his previous hamstring trouble. “We feel very sorry for him,” Maresca said, acknowledging the frustration surrounding Lavia’s inability to stay fit for extended periods. “It’s too early to say for certain what kind of injury this is,” he added, while noting his hope that the issue does not prove to be serious.
This latest setback compounds Lavia’s challenging tenure at Chelsea, during which his availability has been significantly restricted by a series of muscular injuries. The club had hoped his return to fitness would provide much-needed stability in midfield, but once again, his limited minutes on the pitch have become a source of concern.
Maresca underlined Lavia’s importance to the squad while also emphasising the need to protect him during his recovery. “My desire is to have him available, but right now our priority is to make sure he is fit and free of injury,” Maresca explained. With other central midfielders also sidelined, Chelsea’s depth in that area has been tested, making Lavia’s health all the more crucial for the team’s ambitions this season.
