There is no such thing as a getting away from the truth that the final couple of weeks haven’t been good for Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca’s facet drew away to Brentford, misplaced away to Bayern Munich and Manchester United after which, after nearly beating Lincoln Metropolis within the League Cup, misplaced once more towards Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Now, there have definitely been mitigating circumstances in all of these video games, besides, the West Londoners have to arrest this dip in kind shortly.
Chelsea’s current outcomes | |
|---|---|
Opposition | Consequence |
Brighton | 3-1 Loss |
Lincoln | 2-1 Win |
Man Utd | 2-1 Loss |
Bayern | 3-1 Loss |
Brentford | 2-2 Draw |
Sadly, their job has not been made any simpler by the variety of accidents they’re at present contending with, together with Andrey Santos, who’s yet one more participant at risk of lacking the Champions League recreation towards Benfica.
So, to make sure his facet can get one over Chelsea’s former supervisor, José Mourinho, Maresca wants to interchange the Brazilian within the beginning line-up, and fortuitously, he has simply the participant.
Chelsea’s damage issues
Following Maresca’s pre-game press convention, we all know there at the moment are six gamers who’re assured to overlook the sport towards Benfica.
Probably the most vital of these is undoubtedly Cole Palmer, who continues to be rested with hopes that his groin damage will be resolved with out surgical intervention.
Not as worrying, however nonetheless a problem is the absence of Wesley Fofana, who has to take a seat out extra video games attributable to his concussion, and Tosin Adarabioyo, who has a calf drawback and can seemingly be out till after the worldwide break.
These two being unable to play signifies that the out-of-form Trevoh Chalobah should begin alongside the unreliable Benoît Badiashile.
As if that wasn’t already sufficient to cope with, the supervisor informed the press that Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Santos at the moment are all gamers “with some small issues.”
The Argentine did say that the trio could be assessed and that there’s nonetheless an opportunity they’re going to be obtainable, however at this level, it feels secure to imagine they will not be beginning the sport.
So then, with that in thoughts, Maresca has to go forward and unleash one in all Chelsea’s most enjoyable skills rather than Santos, a expertise who may assist the membership get one over their former boss, Mourinho.
The Chelsea star who ought to star rather than Santos
Now, whereas Enzo Fernández will seemingly begin in central midfield and the thrilling Facundo Buonanotte can play within the ten, Maresca nonetheless wants one other barely extra defensive-minded midfielder to come back in.
On this occasion, that participant needs to be the not too long ago returned Roméo Lavia.
The once-capped Belgian has needed to cope with his personal horrendous damage points since becoming a member of the Blues in the summertime of 2023, however he seemed unreal in his season with Southampton, and when he is had an opportunity, he is seemed good for the West Londoners.
The 21-year-old is greater than strong with regards to the defensive facet of the sport, and might be the right reply within the six for this recreation, however he is additionally no slouch with regards to the offensive facet of issues.
For instance, FBref ranked him within the prime 3% of Premier League midfielders for interceptions final season, the highest 4% for move completion and proportion of aerial duels received, and the highest 12% for passes into the ultimate third, amongst different metrics.
Lavia’s Scout Report | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics | Per 90 | Percentile |
Move Completion % (Lengthy) | 84.0% | Prime 1% |
Move Completion % (Medium) | 94.8% | Prime 3% |
Interceptions | 1.81 | Prime 3% |
Move Completion % | 91.7% | Prime 4% |
% of Aerials Gained | 66.7% | Prime 4% |
Profitable Take-On % | 62.5% | Prime 7% |
npxG/Shot | 0.13 | Prime 9% |
Passes into Remaining Third | 5.53 | Prime 12% |
Passes Accomplished (Medium) | 20.78 | Prime 17% |
SCA (Defensive Motion) | 0.11 | Prime 12% |
Tackles (Mid third) | 1.47 | Prime 12% |
Tkl+Int | 4.29 | Prime 12% |
All Stats through FBref | ||
In different phrases, the numbers greater than again up the concept that the “elite” expertise, as dubbed by scout Jacek Kulig, is somebody who might help break up opposition assaults earlier than kick-starting assaults for his personal workforce.
Lastly, whereas it would take a while for followers to see him at his greatest, this recreation towards aggressive however comparatively weaker opposition could also be one of the best alternative to get him extra minutes.
Due to this fact, even when Santos is match and able to go, Maresca could be sensible to unleash Lavia towards Benfica, because the Belgian might be the important thing in serving to him get one over Mourinho.
