Latest news with #WesleyFofana
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Enzo Maresca sends strong message to Chelsea board with latest comments
Enzo Maresca has once again reiterated his want for a new defender and explained why Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile aren't solutions. The Blues were rocked by the news Levi Colwill will miss the majority of the season with an ACL injury suffered in the first training session back after the Club World Cup. Colwill has established himself as a key player for the Blues, and a vital component for Maresca and how he wants his Chelsea team to play. Maresca reiterates he wants a new centre back Maresca stated after the Bayer Leverkusen game he wanted a new centre back, and the Blues now need to decide whether they will back the Italian. Chelsea do have a number of options in their squad, and it could be an opportunity for Josh Acheampong to get more minutes. Maresca has explained why Fofana isn't a solution for Colwill's absence. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC) The Blues also have Fofana and Badiashile, but the duo have shown over the course of their Chelsea careers they've been unable to stay fit for a prolonged period. Speaking ahead of the season opener against Crystal Palace, Maresca once again stated he wanted a new centre back, and he's now gone into further detail about whether Fofana or Badiashile could be solutions. 'Wes played 45 minutes in that position,' he said as quoted by journalist Kieran Gill. 'It was the first half against Bournemouth away. Probably one of the worst halves since we started. 'Benoit playing in the middle, the Conference League final, first half, we were losing 1-0. We changed with Levi and won 4-1. It's not the same. 'The one in the middle, in my way, is so, so, so important.' Acheampong attracting interest from Manchester City Whether Chelsea back Maresca with a new centre back remains to be seen, but one of the current crop is attracting interest. Achemapong, who signed a new contract at the end of last year, could be in line for more minutes this season, but he's also attracting interest from Premier League clubs. More Stories / Latest News Enzo Maresca sends strong message to Chelsea board with latest comments 16th Aug 2025, 07:45am Sky Germany reporter reveals fee Chelsea are 'expecting' for Nkunku, and 'key factor' in Bayern deal 16th Aug 2025, 07:45am Report: Manchester City express surprise interest in signing Chelsea star 16th Aug 2025, 07:15am Manchester City are interested in Acheampong, whilst Bournemouth also had an enquiry knocked back earlier this summer. How the teenager would feel about a new centre back coming in, and what that would mean for his Chelsea career remains to be seen.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace preview, team news and predicted lineup
After their triumph in the USA, world champions Chelsea will be looking to mount a title challenge this Premier League as they face FA Cup winners Crystal Palace Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge on Sunday with the wind at their backs after a season that re‑established standards. Crystal Palace cross the river with silverware and a hardened edge. It is a London derby that carries more than first‑week nerves: one club talking about titles, the other determined to prove last year's breakthrough was a springboard, not a one‑off. Fourth place with 69 points, 64 scored and 43 conceded was a tangible step forward, but the bigger marker was how Chelsea played: cleaner structures, quicker circulation and a defence that bent less. The summer added a headline: world champions, courtesy of the Club World Cup, which has sharpened expectations around a title tilt. That ambition brings pressure to start fast at home, impose tempo and show control without the ball. Palace's 12th‑place finish with 53 points (51 scored, 51 conceded) reads steady on paper; in reality it was the club's most decorated season, crowned by an FA Cup win over Manchester City. That final hardened belief and gave the group a reference point for tight matches. The spine is organised, the wingers break lines, and there is enough nous in midfield to slow games down when needed. Chelsea vs Crystal Palace Chelsea face the opener without Levi Colwill for the long haul after an ACL tear in pre-season. With Wesley Fofana and Benoît Badiashile also encountering setbacks, Enzo Maresca is set to pair Tosin Adarabioyo with Trevoh Chalobah at centre-back to restore height and recovery pace in the back line. Further forward, Nicolas Jackson's suspension from his red card at Newcastle late last season rules him out, pointing to a start for Joao Pedro even after Liam Delap's lively brace from the bench against Milan last week. Romeo Lavia remains sidelined, so the XI that faced the Rossoneri is the template Maresca is most likely to trust again. Crystal Palace welcomed Adam Wharton back for the Community Shield after his late‑season lay‑off, a timely boost for control in the middle third. Captain Marc Guéhi is also back in the matchday picture, though interest from Liverpool has put his future under a cloud. Daichi Kamada's injury last weekend complicates selection; Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma are competing to partner Wharton if Kamada does not make it. Eddie Nketiah misses out with a pre-season muscle problem, joining long‑term absentees Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad. Chelsea vs Crystal Palace Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Adarabioyo, Curucrella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Pedro; Delap Chelsea vs Crystal Palace If you are on the lookout for the latest free bet offers, then look no further. Here, not only do we bring you numerous free bet offers, but all from the very best betting sites in the industry. Each bookie we recommend is fully licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, so you know you are always betting on a safe and trustworthy site. Check out the Mirror Betting Hubs Free Bets offers here. Gamble responsibly Reach plc is committed to promoting safer gambling. All of our content and recommended bets are advised to those aged 18 or over. Odds are subject to change too. We strongly encourage our readers to only ever bet what they can afford to lose. For more information, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Injury drop - is it key to Blues' improvement?
Chelsea endured their worst season in almost two decades in 2022-23, finishing 12th in the Premier League - it was a season of turmoil which saw four different managers come and go, and the volume of injuries played a key Blues had 48 separate injuries, causing a total loss of 1,836 days – both figures were more than any other top-flight club. N'Golo Kante, Armando Broja, Wesley Fofana and Reece James alone each missed more than 100 days, while the club didn't field an unchanged starting line-up in the league all didn't get much better in 2023-24 with 43 separate injuries, a number topped only by Manchester United. Chelsea's tally of 20 different injured players again included James, who was out for 206 days with two separate last season saw a marked improvement, with 24 separate injuries, exactly half as many as the 2022-23 campaign. Chelsea lost 827 days to injury, less than half the amount of both the two previous seasons, with only four clubs losing fewer.
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Every player has a problem: Chelsea's weak position could be exposed this weekend
Chelsea centre back Levi Colwill is out for the season after surgery on his ACL this week. That's a huge blow for Enzo Maresca. The England player started 35 of 38 games last season. So who's going to replace him this season? Wesley Fofana A fit Fofana tops this list for sure – but a fit Fofana is not something we've really seen at Chelsea. If a player – especially a centre-back – can't play regularly, is it actually a good idea to count on them? From what we've heard, Fofana should be OK to face Crystal Palace this weekend despite not having been ready for the friendlies we just played. However we can't see him being thrown in to action like that after 9 months where he's played just a handful of minutes. Trevoh Chalobah Chalobah returned from loan in January and once again proved his worth as a quality defender. The ankle injury he picked up against Milan is worrying, but if he recovers from that we're sure he will play on Sunday. Tosin Adarabioyo Tosin is always going to be a solid squad player and an important dressing room presence, but we wouldn't want to have to play him every week. We weren't very impressed by him in the friendly against AC Milan either. Still, he's almost always going to give you a solid 7/10 performance, and given that he's surely the most likely to start alongside Chalobah (if fit) this weekend. Benoit Badiashile Benoit Badiashile battles Dejan Kulusevski for the ball. (Photo by) A player with perhaps more upside than Tosin or Chalobah, but a lower floor. He has struggled to stay fit and has had some bad games. Has yet to really put together a long run of good games, and so just can't be fully trusted. Aaron Anselmino Anselmino looks like he will be loaned out, it's just a question of timing. He's been kept around to help out with these friendly games – and did indeed feature against Leverkusen, but now they're done we expect him to be loaned out if Chalobah and Badiashile are ready to be in the squad this weekend.
BBC News
07-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Maresca on Colwill injury, Jackson future and managing minutes
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before the upcoming friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan on Friday and Sunday are the key lines from his news conference:Defender Levi Colwill "felt something" in training on Monday and they do not know yet how long he is going to be out Fofana has returned to training. Maresca not expecting him to be fit enough for the two friendlies but he "should be available" for the first game of the season against Crystal said they "are going to try to share minutes" in pre-season because they have only just returned from three weeks off and have new players to the new signings: "I feel very happy about them as they are the ones we were looking at. They need time because they have come from different countries and need time to adapt."He said he is "curious" to see how Chelsea's unprecedented summer schedule with the Club World Cup will impact the squad going into the new season. He added: "They have played over 64 games in a season, which has never happened before, so recovery has been the focus."On the rumours around Nicolas Jackson potentially leaving: "Nico's OK. When the transfer window is open, unfortunately or fortunately, anything can happen. This also involves Nico's situation. We also had two strikers arrive so we will see what happens."He said "the mood is much better" among the players after winning the Conference League and Club World Cup and "it will give the players more energy".On the 'bomb squad' and some of them moving on: "The situation is quite clear. They are training and they are waiting for a solution. I don't pay attention with the ones that are training and need to leave. I just focus on how to prepare the sessions. The news [of them leaving] comes from the club, not me."
