Romeo Lavia recently confirmed that he sustained a minor injury during Chelsea’s recent 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. However, the young midfielder, who joined Chelsea from Southampton in 2023, remains optimistic that the issue isn’t severe.
Since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, the 20-year-old has struggled with multiple injuries, missing 47 games across all competitions, including a handful this season alone. Last season, his debut year with Chelsea, saw him limited to a single appearance. Despite the setbacks, Lavia has already played seven times this season and recently surpassed Enzo Fernandez in Chelsea’s Premier League lineup.
The injury occurred as Lavia was substituted in the 68th minute against Arsenal, replaced by Fernandez. Speaking to RTL Info, Lavia described it as “a little blow” and expressed hope that it’s nothing serious. He’s since joined the Belgian squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Italy and Israel. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is optimistic Lavia can increase his match fitness without worsening the injury, as the club approaches a critical phase of the 2024/25 season.
Maresca has managed Lavia’s game time carefully this season, aware of his previous injury history under former manager Mauricio Pochettino. Both Lavia and teammates Reece James and Wesley Fofana are on specific programs, playing just once per week when feasible to prevent further injuries.
Maresca elaborated on this approach, particularly in managing Reece James’ fitness, stating that repeated injuries require careful solutions. For James, as with Lavia and Fofana, playing only once weekly has been a way to avoid additional strain.
In recent matches, Lavia has built a strong partnership with Moises Caicedo in midfield. Although neither player is a traditional defensive midfielder, they have collectively provided more stability to Chelsea’s defense.
