Chelsea’s pre-season opener against Western Sydney Wanderers offered goals and rhythm, but it also brought another familiar question: what exactly is the plan with Romeo Lavia? The midfielder missed the 6-4 win at the Accor Stadium after feeling something in his hamstring, and the update will be a concern for anyone looking ahead to Spurs play on Saturday.
For Chelsea, this was not just a routine early-summer absence. Lavia has struggled to build momentum since joining from Southampton in 2023, with persistent hamstring problems limiting him to 21 appearances in all competitions last season. He is yet to play a full 90 minutes for the club, which is why even a minor setback tends to feel significant.
Xabi Alonso: not worth the risk
Xabi Alonso said Lavia “felt something in his hamstring” and that it “was not worth taking a risk”. That is the right call in pre-season, especially on a patchy pitch that had already hosted three rugby league matches over the weekend. There is no sense forcing a player with this record through a friendly when the real tests are still to come.
The wider issue is that Chelsea cannot yet treat Lavia as a routine selection. When he is available, he gives them balance in midfield and helps them play with more control, but his body has repeatedly interrupted that process. For a squad looking to settle into sharper patterns, that is a problem that remains unresolved.
What happens next for Chelsea?
The positive for Chelsea is that this was described as minor discomfort rather than a more serious issue. The hope is that Lavia can be ready for Tottenham on Saturday, but at this stage it is still a case of watching closely rather than making assumptions.
For now, Chelsea can point to the 6-4 result and the attacking threat they showed in Sydney, yet the fitness of key midfield players will matter far more as the fixtures become more demanding. Spurs play is the next marker, and Lavia’s availability could quickly become one of the first selection questions of the summer.
