Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s manager, has been forced to make a special agreement regarding one of his key players, Wesley Fofana. Since taking over at Stamford Bridge, Maresca has had the challenge of managing a huge squad, prompting him to significantly reduce the number of players during the transfer window.
In total, 41 players either left the club permanently or were sent out on loan over the summer, allowing Maresca to work with a more manageable and settled team.
So far, Maresca has led Chelsea to a strong start in the Premier League, currently sitting in fourth place after seven matches. One of the standout players this season has been Wesley Fofana, who has started every league game for the Blues.
Maresca is said to have “fallen in love” with the French defender’s performances, especially after Fofana’s long recovery from injury.
However, reports from L’Equipe reveal that Maresca has had to come to a special agreement with his coaching staff to manage Fofana’s workload. Under this arrangement, Fofana will only play once a week until January 2025 to avoid aggravating any potential injury risks.
This precaution is necessary as Fofana has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons, including missing the entirety of the last season due to an ACL tear.
To help maintain his fitness, Fofana was left out of Chelsea’s squad for the Europa Conference League, as the club prioritizes his recovery and ability to perform in the Premier League.
Although he has returned to full fitness and been a vital part of Chelsea’s defense, the agreement ensures that Fofana’s participation is carefully managed to prevent further setbacks.
Fofana’s absence from the international scene has also been carefully monitored. He was an unused substitute for France’s 4-1 victory over Israel in their recent international fixture, highlighting the caution taken with his playing time.
Furthermore, Fofana will miss Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League clash with Liverpool, not due to injury but because he is suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season in the club’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.
With Fofana out of the Liverpool match, Maresca will be forced to make changes to Chelsea’s defense. Alongside Fofana, Marc Cucurella will also be unavailable, having accumulated five yellow cards as well.
This leaves Maresca needing to shuffle his backline, and it is likely that Tosin Adarabioyo will step in to replace Fofana at the heart of the defense for the important fixture at Anfield.
Maresca has been vocal about his admiration for Fofana, particularly praising his efforts after recovering from his year-long injury. Following Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over West Ham in September, Maresca expressed his gratitude for Fofana’s resilience, stating, “Wes is a player I really love, and we love with Wes because he is doing fantastic after one year of injury.” He acknowledged that returning from such a lengthy absence is never easy for a player, but Fofana has managed to perform at a top level, much to the delight of the coaching staff.
As the season progresses, Chelsea fans will hope that the careful management of Fofana’s fitness will allow him to remain a key figure in the team’s defense, ensuring the club’s strong start in the Premier League continues.
