Manager Maresca Confirms Fofana and Lavia Will Be Absent for Chelsea’s Clash Against Brentford

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will be without the services of Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia for their upcoming match against Brentford on Sunday, as injuries continue to plague the team’s pursuit of a top four finish in the Premier League.

Both players had been regulars under Maresca in the earlier stages of the season, but their contributions have been severely affected by ongoing injuries.

Following Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea climbed to fourth in the league standings with just eight fixtures left to play.

The 24-year-old French defender Fofana has only recently returned from an extended spell on the sidelines due to a muscle injury; however, he has only made two league appearances since his comeback, as he was not included in the squad for the Tottenham match.

“Fofana had a muscle issue a few days ago, and we are awaiting further assessments,” Maresca informed journalists on Friday.

Lavia has played just two Premier League matches since early December and has faced another setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Maresca confirmed that Lavia will also miss the match against Brentford.

“No, he’s out for Sunday. We’re not yet certain of the duration of his absence,” he stated.

“We’re monitoring both injuries. Romeo appears to be in slightly better shape than Wes (Fofana) and may return sooner.”

Despite making only 13 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea this season, Maresca emphasised that the 21-year-old Belgian midfielder is pivotal to the club’s plans moving forward.

“When comparing Romeo’s performances this season with last season, there’s been noticeable improvement,” Maresca noted.

“Given the challenges this season, our aim with Romeo is to maintain his fitness as much as possible.

“I believe next season he’ll be involved in more matches than he has been this time around.”