Chelsea has received a significant setback as defender Benoit Badiashile is reportedly sidelined for a month due to injury. This means he will likely miss crucial fixtures, including the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool and Premier League matches against Crystal Palace, Manchester City, and Brentford.
According to a report in the Evening Standard, Badiashile sustained a groin injury during the 3-1 victory over Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth-round replay last week.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino provided an update on Badiashile’s condition, stating (via Football London):
“Badiashile we need to assess and wait for the scan. Groin. I hope it’s not a big issue. We need to assess now, and after we will know better.”
Former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas recently lauded the young defender, saying (via Metro):
“I played with [Axel] Disasi and Badiashile; Badiashile is one of the best ball-playing center-backs in all the young players in Europe; there is a lot of quality and a lot of talent.”
With Badiashile unavailable, Chelsea will need to adjust their lineup for the upcoming fixtures. It is expected that veteran defender Thiago Silva will step in, unless Pochettino opts for Levi Colwill or Trevoh Chalobah, who have returned from their own injuries.
