BREAKING: Chelsea Get MASSIVE Injury Boost as Maresca’s SHOCK Plan Set to Change EVERYTHING!

Levi Colwill’s Intense Season and the Crucial Return of Benoît Badiashile

The Strain on Colwill and Why Badiashile’s Comeback Matters

Levi Colwill has been an integral part of Chelsea’s defense this season, playing a significant number of minutes across all competitions. Given his heavy workload, few players will be as relieved as Colwill to see Benoît Badiashile returning to full training. With Chelsea preparing to re-enter European competition on Thursday nights, the French defender’s return comes at a crucial time for both the team and manager Enzo Maresca.

Badiashile has been out of action for more than three months due to a hamstring injury, and much has changed in his absence. His last appearance saw him substituted at halftime during Chelsea’s dramatic 4-3 comeback victory against Tottenham after a challenging first half. Since then, Chelsea has struggled with defensive consistency, making his return even more important.

Having spent several weeks training individually at Cobham, Badiashile has now rejoined full team sessions, indicating he is close to making his return to competitive action. His comeback arrives at a pivotal moment, as Chelsea’s squad depth has been tested following key player departures in the January transfer window—particularly in defense.

Colwill’s Role in Chelsea’s European Ambitions

Despite Chelsea’s participation in the UEFA Conference League this season, Levi Colwill has yet to make his European debut for the club. Manager Enzo Maresca made the strategic decision to rest and rotate key players during the group stage, meaning Colwill remained on the sidelines. However, the situation has now changed. The exits of Renato Veiga and Axel Disasi, along with Wesley Fofana’s omission from the knockout-stage squad, have significantly limited Chelsea’s defensive options.

Further compounding the issue, Trevoh Chalobah is still recovering from injury, and while Badiashile is nearing full fitness, he may not be ready to step straight into the starting lineup. The closest academy prospect available, Ishe Samuels-Smith, is still awaiting his senior debut. Given these circumstances, Maresca now faces the challenge of managing Colwill’s playing time effectively to ensure he remains fit and in peak condition for the crucial fixtures ahead.

A Season of Heavy Responsibility

At just 22 years old, Levi Colwill has shouldered a remarkable level of responsibility within Chelsea’s defensive unit. With injuries sidelining senior players like Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah, Colwill has become a key figure in Chelsea’s backline. Despite his young age, he has had to step up as a leader in a defense that has offered little protection beyond Moisés Caicedo’s presence in midfield.

Although the arrival of Tosin Adarabioyo has provided some support, he has not significantly strengthened Chelsea’s defense compared to Chalobah. This has left Colwill as the primary defensive anchor in an ever-evolving backline. Despite being the youngest among Chelsea’s key defenders, he has played more minutes than most of his more experienced teammates, including Marc Cucurella (26), Adarabioyo (27), Chalobah (25), James (25), and Fofana (24).

Colwill’s endurance has been impressive—out of Chelsea’s 27 league matches so far, he has missed only two: one due to injury and another as a precaution. Whenever he has been available, he has played every single minute. His playing time this season has already exceeded last year’s total by 500 minutes. If he continues at this rate, he will accumulate more minutes than he did in the previous two seasons combined, even surpassing his career-high workload from his loan spell at Huddersfield Town in 2021/22.

Managing Fatigue While Maintaining Performance

While Colwill’s performances have been commendable, the sheer volume of minutes he has played has inevitably led to moments of fatigue. This has resulted in occasional lapses in positioning, passing accuracy, and aerial duels—mistakes that are understandable for a young defender still developing at the highest level. Chelsea’s commitment to relying on young talent means growing pains are expected, and Colwill’s season has highlighted both his immense potential and the challenges of rapid progression.

Despite the occasional mistakes, Colwill remains Chelsea’s most reliable ball-playing defender. His composure under pressure and ability to progress the ball forward have been crucial to the team’s tactical setup. His performances have not gone unnoticed, and if he continues on this trajectory, he could soon attract attention from England manager Thomas Tuchel.

The return of Benoît Badiashile is not just beneficial for Chelsea’s defensive depth—it also offers Colwill some much-needed relief. If Badiashile is deemed fit for Chelsea’s upcoming match in Denmark, it would allow Colwill a chance to rest and recharge before crucial fixtures against Leicester City and Arsenal. While the Conference League may not be as demanding as Chelsea’s domestic challenges, Maresca must carefully balance his defensive resources to ensure his key players remain fresh for the critical games ahead.