Chelsea’s new head coach, Enzo Maresca, faces a potential challenge with the injury history of some of the squad’s key players, even as he hopes for a strong contribution from summer signing Pedro Neto. After a busy transfer window, which saw the addition of 13 new players, Maresca’s main task now is to build a competitive and cohesive team following a mixed start in the Premier League.
An emerging issue, which Maresca may have limited control over, is the injury track record of several Chelsea players. Recent data from Sporting Post indicates that four key players have, on average, missed over 100 days per season due to injuries. Wesley Fofana tops the list with an average of 163.4 days sidelined, followed by Reece James (121.6), Pedro Neto (116.8), and Ben Chilwell (109.6).
The extent of these injuries isn’t a surprise, given the limited number of appearances from these players last season. For instance, Reece James only managed to feature in 11 games, while Neto played the most out of the injury-prone group with 24 appearances.
Conversely, some of Chelsea’s least injury-prone players include Axel Disasi, who averages just 7.6 days out per season, followed by Mykhaylo Mudryk (10.4) and new signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (13.7).
Stephen Smith, CEO of Kitman Labs, has offered insights into tackling these injury issues. Smith emphasized the importance of understanding the full picture rather than isolating one cause for injuries. He highlighted the need to monitor various factors, such as athlete recovery, movement, sleep patterns, and fitness levels, to help clubs make better-informed decisions and potentially prevent injuries in the future.
Chelsea’s list of the most and least injury-prone players highlights a significant area of concern for Maresca as he looks to establish stability in the squad. Here’s a breakdown of the club’s players based on their injury records:
Most injury-prone players (average days out per season):
1. Wesley Fofana – 163.4
2. Reece James – 121.6
3. Pedro Neto – 116.8
4. Ben Chilwell – 109.6
5. Christopher Nkunku – 83.2
6. Benoit Badiashile – 81.6
7. Carney Chukwuemeka – 79
8. Noni Madueke – 72.5
9. Levi Colwill – 59.3
10. Joao Felix – 58.4
Least injury-prone players (average days out per season):
1. Axel Disasi – 7.6
2. Mykhaylo Mudryk – 10.4
3. Moises Caicedo – 12
4. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 13.7
5. Enzo Fernandez – 15.6
6. Marc Cucurella – 23
7. Tosin Adarabioyo – 25.4
8. Robert Sanchez – 29.4
9. Cole Palmer – 31
10. Marcus Bettinelli – 34.4
