Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana arrives at the stadium before the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Chelsea FC at the Vitality Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)
Enzo Maresca has reported on Wesley Fofana’s fitness after the defender was sent off and appeared to be in pain during Chelsea’s 3-0 win over West Ham on Saturday.
Fofana joined the Blues from Leicester in the summer of 2022 but has seen his progress hampered by a number of knee and ligament injuries.
The 23-year-old has played just 25 times for Chelsea in all competitions so far and was sidelined last season due to a cruciate ligament tear.
But Fofana has already played five times in the Premier League at the start of this season, even earning a France international recall, although he left the field early last month as a precaution.
With that in mind, the sight of Fofana coming off in the 57th minute against the Hammers on Saturday, followed by the player limping off with heavy straps and ice on his knee, will be a real cause for concern.
“No, no, no” – Maresca offers Fofana’s fitness update
However, Maresca has moved to allay fears over Fofana’s fitness, insisting the defender was only taken off as “protection”.
“No, no, no (it’s not serious),” Maresca told reporters at Fofana, who played right-back on Saturday (via Football. London).
“The reason we changed it is because we’re trying to protect it a little bit. In the second half, they switched Kudus to this side and it was probably a big risk to keep him but there is no injury.
“Wes is a player I love a lot and we love Wes because he’s doing great after a year of injury. For any player who’s out for a year, it’s not easy and he’s doing his best. That’s the “only thing we want from him”.
Fofana is likely to be rested as Chelsea host League Two leaders Barrow in the EFL Cup on Tuesday before returning to the squad for their Premier League clash at home to Brighton next weekend.
Top photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images
