Maresca allays fears over key player’s fitness after West Ham substitution

Chelsea secured a resounding 3-0 win against West Ham United at the London Stadium on Saturday. However, the victory was briefly overshadowed by concerns surrounding the early substitution of French defender Wesley Fofana, who was deployed as a right-back for the match.

In the post-match press conference, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca moved swiftly to address the speculation about Fofana’s fitness. Maresca provided reassurance to anxious Chelsea supporters,

“No, no, no [it’s not serious]. The reason why we changed him is because we try to protect him a little bit.”

Maresca elaborated on the tactical reasoning behind the substitution, revealing that West Ham had shifted Mohammed Kudus to Fofana’s side in the second half, potentially exposing the defender to increased risk.

The sight of Fofana with an ice pack and heavy strapping on his left knee after the match had initially raised concerns, given his history of fitness issues, including a recent anterior cruciate ligament problem.

Despite the challenges posed by significant injury setbacks since his £70 million move to Chelsea in August 2022, Fofana has shown remarkable resilience. The defender returned to full fitness during pre-season and has featured in all five Premier League matches this season under Maresca’s guidance.

Maresca expressed his admiration for Fofana’s recent performances, stating,

“Wes is a player I really love and we love with Wes because he is doing fantastic after one year of injury. For any player that is out for a year, it is not easy and he is doing top. This is the only thing we want from him.”

Maresca’s decision to start Fofana at right-back was influenced by the current injury situation at Chelsea, with regular right-backs Reece James and Malo Gusto sidelined. The Italian coach has been forced to adapt his defensive lineup to navigate through this challenging period.

Looking ahead, Chelsea face a busy schedule with upcoming matches in the Carabao Cup, Premier League, and European competition. The Blues host Barrow in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, followed by home games against Brighton, Gent, and Nottingham Forest.

Despite the minor scare with Fofana, the mood in the Chelsea camp remains upbeat following their comprehensive win over West Ham. Nicolas Jackson’s first-half brace and assist for Cole Palmer’s goal highlighted an impressive team performance, leaving Maresca satisfied with both the result and the clean sheet.