Chelsea Injury Latest Shapes Maresca Challenge Ahead of Everton Test

Chelsea Injury Latest Shapes Maresca’s Challenge Ahead of Everton Test

Chelsea head into another pivotal week facing not just the results on the pitch but the ongoing impact of injuries that have disrupted the squad at crucial moments. The recent defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League, following a sequence of domestic setbacks, has intensified scrutiny on squad availability, rhythm, and what this team can realistically deliver while so many influential players remain sidelined.

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Injury Setbacks Intensify Pressure on Maresca

Chelsea are currently without a win in four games, a run that includes the 2-1 loss to Atalanta and frustrating Premier League draws against Arsenal and Bournemouth. The return of Cole Palmer against the Cherries offered brief encouragement, yet the wider squad picture remains fractured.

Moises Caicedo featured in Europe but will serve the final match of his suspension this weekend, leaving a key midfield gap unlikely to be easily filled.

Against Atalanta, Wesley Fofana suffered a setback after returning from a long-term injury. Introduced at half-time due to Trevoh Chalobah’s booking, Fofana was forced off just 30 minutes later following a collision with Gianluca Scamacca, which resulted in a stud catching his right eye. Maresca revealed:

“He had a problem with his eye. It’s quite bad. He’s struggling to see. Hopefully he can be available for Everton on Saturday.”

For a side craving defensive consistency, uncertainty over Fofana’s vision—even short-term—is a stark reminder of the fine margins shaping Chelsea’s season.

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Squad Depth Tested by Delap and Lavia

Liam Delap, seen as a tactical outlet for Chelsea, suffered another shoulder setback against Bournemouth. A tangle with Marcos Senesi left him in visible distress. Maresca reflected:

“Unfortunately, he was already out for two months, and he has to be out again. We don’t know for how long, but it looks quite bad, his shoulder.”

Optimism points to a potential four-week return, but repeated interruptions risk halting a player who had only just begun to influence the attack regularly.

Romeo Lavia, signed for £53 million in 2023, continues to be plagued by injuries. His latest issue, sustained in the Champions League match against Qarabag, leaves Maresca unable to provide even a provisional return timeline:

“It’s a muscle problem. We don’t know yet when he can be back.”

For a midfielder expected to define Chelsea’s structure and tempo, this uncertainty is a familiar frustration.

Dario Essugo had appeared on course for a late-year return but suffered a minor setback after rejoining training early. Maresca confirmed:

“For sure, he is not available for the next three games. I don’t think it is serious. We need to check him, as it happened yesterday.”

While not as severe as other absences, the timing adds to the narrative of a squad continually one step from cohesion.

Levi Colwill, out since preseason with an ACL injury, is progressing steadily, reportedly off crutches for a month with no setbacks. His potential return before season’s end offers long-term hope, though it does not ease the immediate strain.

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Managing the Domino Effect

Maresca’s challenge lies less in one individual injury than in juggling the interconnected consequences of many. Chelsea’s rhythm, confidence, and tactical identity have been repeatedly interrupted by absences that arrive just as form threatens to settle.

Looking ahead to Everton:

• Palmer’s return should offer a boost.
• Fofana may yet be available.
• Delap’s timeline is cautious but not catastrophic.
• Lavia and Essugo remain uncertain variables.
• Colwill edges slowly forward.

In a period defined by fragility, Chelsea must carve out consistency from whatever stability they can muster. The latest injury updates, though cautiously optimistic in parts, underline the challenge of maintaining balance in a squad still searching for rhythm.