Chelsea will be without key midfielder Romeo Lavia for their FIFA Club World Cup semi-final clash against Fluminense on Tuesday, manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed.
Lavia, 21, suffered a muscle injury during the Round of 16 victory over Benfica and also missed the quarter-final win against Palmeiras.
Speaking ahead of the semi-final match, Maresca revealed that the Belgian international has not yet fully recovered and is still recovering from injury, and therefore has not yet rejoined team training.
“Romeo is training already but is unfortunately not training with us, so he is not ready for tomorrow,” Maresca said during his pre-match press conference.
Midfield Woes for Chelsea
The absence of Lavia presents a significant setback for the Blues, who are already juggling a congested fixture schedule and injury concerns. Lavia’s energy and ball progression have been vital to Chelsea’s midfield setup, especially in high-pressure matches.
Chelsea will now have to rely on other midfield options like Enzo Fernández, Conor Gallagher, and Moisés Caicedo as they prepare to face a talented Fluminense side.
Club World Cup Final on the Line
The semi-final clash will determine who secures a place in the FIFA Club World Cup final set to be held on Sunday, 13 July, at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA.
The Blues are eyeing their second Club World Cup title, having previously lifted the trophy in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel.
