Srećko Šijaković 
Roméo Lavia is a footballer who has suffered an extremely high number of injuries at Chelsea FC. The Belgian midfielder showed great talent and skills when he arrived at Chelsea. His performances in central midfield were fascinating, and he looked extremely secure and also confident with the ball.
Romeo Lavia was full of dynamism in midfield, brave, calm, composed, and courageous. Lavia impressed with technique, fast reactions, direct passing and great concentration. His abilities gave confidence and calmness to Chelsea while Lavia was playing.
Lavia’s style was extremely great and impressive.
He was confident and determined.
He attempted vertical balls and risky solutions that are becoming rare in modern football, where many players avoid risk because of the fear that one mistake can immediately lead to a goal for the opponent. Lavia was bypassing all that; he did it regularly. That was not a problem for him. He was great.
Lavia is a characteristic central midfielder. Even when tightly marked and surrounded by two players, he has the ability to release an excellent pass. He has huge potential. But the question is: what is the real problem? Why is he constantly injured?
He has not played for Chelsea since November. After his injury, Enzo Maresca lost important battles in midfield. Maresca did not have a chance to use Laiva in his key moments.
Enzo Marsca left the club, and Lavia was not ready to play.
Bad discipline from august. Fitness issues.
However, the deeper issue lies in the player’s approach. Last summer, Lavia reportedly arrived at Chelsea’s pre-season camp significantly overweight — around 30 kilograms above optimal condition. His lack of discipline meant that at the start of the season, he had lost rhythm and continuity. He looked physically heavy and unprepared.
Arriving in that condition led to serious joint problems, and an injury had to happen. He was no longer able to move as before. Since his injury in November, Chelsea has lacked midfield depth.
Since Dario Essugo was also injured at midfield, it resulting with introducing Recce James, a midfielder.
Chelsea signed Lavia to play football!
Injuries are often directly linked to fitness levels. With his unprofessional preparation, Lavia put his status at the club in question. Chelsea were left without a player who could have been their best midfielder. Instead, the team now has to rely on Caicedo and Santos deeper in midfield, while Enzo Fernández plays in a more advanced role.
In this way, Lavia directly weakened his own team. Chelsea now lacks balance in midfield, and Santos does not have an adequate replacement because Fernández operates higher up the pitch.
For the fans and for the club, this is a major disappointment. Instead of becoming a dominant midfielder, Lavia has turned into a player who is rarely available. The key question is whether he can ever return to consistent high-level football, because he no longer looks like the same player he was one or two years ago.
He even played for Chelsea’s youth side for a half this weekend. He spent the first half-time on the pitch to return to fitness. The point is, Chelsea desperately needs him and needs him to be good. That alone raises the question: Will we see Lavia again at the highest level? Will he be fit since Chelsea straggles on his position.
Andrey Santos does not have a proper replacement. Chelsea did not buy a new midfielder in January, and the club is playing the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
Chelsea needs Romeo Lavia to shine.
This is an example of a perfect talent with outstanding predispositions to become one of the best midfielders, but whose off-field decisions may have cost him momentum in his career. Chelsea is certainly affected — he is a highly paid player who was expected to deliver consistently and become a key midfielder for the Blues.
Lavia was not serious; he had everything possible. He was not serious enough.
Through injuries, Lavia has gone from one of the most talented young midfielders with elite reaction speed to a player fighting simply to regain fitness. Chelsea planned for him to shine in midfield and define their structure.
Lavia is no longer the player he once was.
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