According to The Chelsea Chronicle, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is eager for his team to bounce back as they struggle to keep pace in the race for a Champions League spot. With just two wins in their last nine league matches, the Blues have slipped to sixth in the Premier League standings, making their upcoming fixture against Aston Villa crucial.
A significant factor in Chelsea’s struggles has been their growing injury list. Key players like Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu have been sidelined, both picking up injuries in the same match. Maresca initially believed the squad could manage without Jackson, but back-to-back defeats to Brighton may have forced him to reassess just how influential the Senegalese forward has been.
Further compounding Chelsea’s injury woes, winger Noni Madueke was forced off in their most recent league game, adding another key name to an already crowded treatment room. With Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, and Benoit Badiashile also still unavailable, questions were inevitably raised about potential returns ahead of the Villa clash.
Maresca provided a cautiously optimistic update, confirming that there are no new injury concerns and hinting that a number of players could return after the international break. He stated: “We don’t have any additional injuries. Noni will likely be out until the international break, but after that, we could have most, if not all, of the players back. That would be a big boost for us.”
This update suggests that even Fofana, who was initially expected to miss the entire season following a serious injury in December, could make a surprising return. The news is a welcome lift for Chelsea, who have been forced to navigate their campaign with a severely depleted squad.
Enzo Maresca Says All Injured Chelsea Players Could Return After International Break