Wesley Fofana could miss the rest of the season due to the centre-back's fourth long-term injury since joining Chelsea in August 2022, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has said.
Frenchman Fofana, who joined the Blues from Leicester City for £70m plus £5m in add-ons, started all 12 Premier League matches he has been available this season before suffering a hamstring injury in the 3-0 win over His guest. Aston Villa on December 1.
“After the tests, we realized it was worse than we initially thought,” Maresca said when asked why he initially expected Fofana to miss four or five weeks.
“Unfortunately, we will be out for a while. I don't think this type of injury can be compared to the rest.
“Before, he didn't have any kind of muscle injury. It's a different kind of injury. He's a bit unlucky, but he'll be back to how he was before.”
Late winner, late winner! 🇲🇦#Cry 21/22⏮️ pic.twitter.com/IEVUZE4519
– Chelsea (@ChelseaFC) January 3, 2025
Fofana's injury history
Fofana will have missed more than 100 games for Chelsea by the time the 24-year-old recovers from the latest setback, his first since missing all of last season with a knee injury.
He missed more than 10 weeks with a knee problem between October and December 2022 and missed nine games with another knee problem shortly after that.
Knee injuries caused the former France international to miss 40 matches during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, and Leicester lost him for most of the 2021/22 campaign due to a broken leg.
Palace vs Chelsea
Chelsea travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday (3pm GMT) aiming to win for the first time in four games and end a two-game losing streak, following a 2-1 home defeat to Fulham on December 26 and a 2-0 home defeat. Ipswich Town on Monday.
Maresca said: “Against Fulham, we were ahead until the 82nd minute and then we conceded two goals. “Against Ipswich, it wasn't our day. Their desire to win the game and not concede was higher.
NG with the winner at Selhurst Park! 💪#Cry 18/19 ⏮️ pic.twitter.com/F1rKuNYwMq
– Chelsea (@ChelseaFC) January 3, 2025
“We don't like losing games or dropping points, but it won't affect our journey. Don't forget that this journey only started five or six months ago.
“There are teams that have been together for five or six years and are fighting to win the Premier League. Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool are more ready than us. We will be there – and hopefully soon.
“I didn't need to lose a game to understand that. I would have told you we're there, because it's not a bad thing, it's a nice thing to be in the title race.
“I didn't need to wait to lose two games in a row to prove myself right. I don't think it's a bad situation; we're just analyzing it game by game.
90.
no #PL The player has made more tackles and interceptions than Moi Caicedo this season. 🇪🇨💪 pic.twitter.com/fZyYtpvVUx
– Chelsea (@ChelseaFC) January 2, 2025
Maresca: Chelsea 'never asked' for the Champions League
Maresca reiterated that a target of a top-four finish at the end of his first season has not been set. He added: “When I met the club, they never asked me to be in the Champions League this season.”
They asked me to build a team in two, three, four or five years that could compete for the title.”
