Manager Maresca Confirms Fofana and Lavia Will Miss Chelsea’s Clash Against Brentford

Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, will have to cope without Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia for the upcoming match against Brentford on Sunday, as injuries continue to impede his squad’s pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Both players were integral to Maresca’s plans during the initial phase of the season, but their contributions have been severely limited due to injuries.

Following a narrow 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, Chelsea now sits fourth in the league with just eight matches left in the campaign.

French defender Fofana, at 24, recently made a return after an extended spell on the sidelines due to a muscle injury but managed to play only two league games before being omitted from the squad for the Spurs match.

“Fofana experienced a muscle issue a few days ago, and we are awaiting further evaluations,” Maresca informed the press on Friday.

As for Lavia, the young midfielder has featured in just two Premier League matches since early December and has encountered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Maresca has confirmed that Lavia will also miss the Brentford clash.

“No, he won’t be available for Sunday. We’re uncertain about the duration of his absence,” he stated.

“Currently, we are monitoring both players. Romeo’s injury appears to be less severe compared to Wes’s, so he might return before Wes does.”

Even though Lavia has participated in only 13 matches across all competitions this season, Maresca emphasised his importance to the club’s strategy moving forward.

“When you compare Romeo’s performances this season to last, there’s been noticeable improvement,” Maresca remarked.

“Given the challenges this season, our primary goal for Romeo is to ensure he stays fit for as long as possible.

“Next season, I anticipate he will play significantly more matches than he has this year.”