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Chelsea fans have been dealt a significant blow as Wesley Fofana could miss the rest of the season after his hamstring injury was confirmed to be worse than initially feared. Head coach Enzo Maresca shared the disappointing update, stating that the 24-year-old defender may not return to action until next season.
“Unfortunately, he could be out for the season,” Maresca revealed. “We don’t know exactly for the entire season, but for sure he could be out for part of it.”
Fofana, who has not played since being substituted during Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Aston Villa on December 1, was originally expected to be sidelined for only a few weeks. However, further tests and analysis have revealed the severity of the injury, casting doubt over his return this campaign.
The France international, who endured a challenging 2022/23 season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, has been a crucial part of Chelsea’s defense this term, forming a solid partnership with Levi Colwill. His absence is compounded by the ongoing unavailability of Benoit Badiashile, who is also sidelined until February.
“Every time you ask me about Wes, I said many times I am in love with Wes, because he is that kind of defender that gives you the chance to press and be aggressive and to leave in one vs one with [Ollie] Watkins,” Maresca said.
“We did exactly the same when Wes was injured with Benoit, one vs one with [Dominic] Solanke and [both defenders] can deal with that. It’s very difficult to find that kind of defender. Now both are injured and we are trying to find different solutions.
“For sure, Wes is a huge loss. I don’t think this kind of injury can be compared to the rest. This one is muscle and previously he hasn’t had any muscle problems, so it’s completely different. It’s a bit unlucky, but he will be back, and he will be good in the way he was before he was injured.”
Fofana’s injury comes as another setback in his Chelsea career, which has been plagued by fitness issues since his £75m move from Leicester City. The defender made only 15 Premier League appearances in his first season for Chelsea and has been desperately unlucky with injuries since.
Chelsea fans will now look to the rest of the squad to step up in his absence as Maresca seeks solutions to keep the team competitive. However, the coach remains optimistic about Fofana’s eventual return: “He will be back, and he will be good in the way he was before he was injured.”
The hope among the Chelsea faithful is that both Fofana and Badiashile will recover fully and return to fortify the team as soon as possible. For now, the focus remains on adapting and overcoming this challenging period.
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What are you doing with Benoit Badashile he is not good enough to play for Chelsea, better look for replacement now you have the opportunity.