Chelsea’s Lacroix faces weeks out with hamstring injury
Chelsea defender Maxence Lacroix will miss several weeks after suffering a hamstring injury against Liverpool. Xabi Alonso said he would not return before the international break. BBC Sport’s sources fear the absence could last until January. The manager has identified defensive alternatives while avoiding a precise public date for the French player’s return.
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Alonso confirms several weeks out
Maxence Lacroix, the French centre-back at English football club Chelsea, faces several weeks out after suffering a hamstring injury against Liverpool. Manager Xabi Alonso confirmed the absence on Friday, before the Premier League match with Manchester United. He said the defender would not be ready before the international break.[1], [2]
Multiple sources told BBC Sport that the absence could extend until January. Club sources and Alonso have remained guarded about an exact return date. The January possibility is therefore the assessment reported by the broadcaster, while the manager’s public account gives a period of several weeks without a fixed comeback date.[1]
A sprint to block a shot ends in injury
The injury occurred near the end of the first half of Wednesday’s League Cup tie at Liverpool. Lacroix was sprinting and trying to block a shot when he was hurt. He left the pitch before halftime. Chelsea subsequently went out of the competition on penalties, with the defender unavailable for the rest of that match.[1], [2]
Lacroix had started 10 of Chelsea’s first 11 matches in all competitions after joining from Crystal Palace in the summer. Only attacker Morgan Rogers had played more for the club. The injury removes a regular starter from the central defensive group as Alonso prepares his team for the upcoming league fixture.[1]
Fofana and Colwill among defensive options
Alonso named Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Josh Acheampong as players who could cover at centre-back. He also said Jorrel Hato would be another option when he returned to the squad. Hato and Aaron Anselmino are themselves injured. Some of the available defenders have also been used at full-back.[1]
The manager praised Fofana’s performance against Liverpool, describing it as consistent and strong despite the defender’s missed penalty in the shootout. Alonso said the staff knew his level and expected him to be important for the team. His comments followed the same cup match in which Lacroix was forced off.[1]
