Every player has a problem: Chelsea’s weak position could be exposed this weekend

Chelsea centre back Levi Colwill is out for the season after surgery on his ACL this week. That’s a huge blow for Enzo Maresca. The England player started 35 of 38 games last season. So who’s going to replace him this season?

Wesley Fofana

A fit Fofana tops this list for sure – but a fit Fofana is not something we’ve really seen at Chelsea. If a player – especially a centre-back – can’t play regularly, is it actually a good idea to count on them?

From what we’ve heard, Fofana should be OK to face Crystal Palace this weekend despite not having been ready for the friendlies we just played. However we can’t see him being thrown in to action like that after 9 months where he’s played just a handful of minutes.

Trevoh Chalobah

Chalobah returned from loan in January and once again proved his worth as a quality defender.

The ankle injury he picked up against Milan is worrying, but if he recovers from that we’re sure he will play on Sunday.

Tosin Adarabioyo

Tosin is always going to be a solid squad player and an important dressing room presence, but we wouldn’t want to have to play him every week.

We weren’t very impressed by him in the friendly against AC Milan either.

Still, he’s almost always going to give you a solid 7/10 performance, and given that he’s surely the most likely to start alongside Chalobah (if fit) this weekend.

Benoit Badiashile

Benoit Badiashile battles Dejan Kulusevski for the ball. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

A player with perhaps more upside than Tosin or Chalobah, but a lower floor. He has struggled to stay fit and has had some bad games. Has yet to really put together a long run of good games, and so just can’t be fully trusted.

Aaron Anselmino

Anselmino looks like he will be loaned out, it’s just a question of timing.

He’s been kept around to help out with these friendly games – and did indeed feature against Leverkusen, but now they’re done we expect him to be loaned out if Chalobah and Badiashile are ready to be in the squad this weekend.