There really should be no excuses for Chelsea's abject start to the season, but if there is to be one mitigating factor, it's the ever-growing injury list at Stamford Bridge.
It's no secret Chelsea have spent a frankly ridiculous amount of money on players in recent transfer windows, amassing an enormous squad of talented young players. No matter the circumstances, the Blues should be performing better on the pitch.
However, Mauricio Pochettino has not always had all his players at his disposal this season, with Chelsea enduring a torrid run in terms of injuries to key personnel.
The Blues currently have 11 players who are injured in some capacity, including several long-term absentees, none of which has helped Pochettino get his new side playing their best football and picking up consistent results.
Reece James
Injury: Hamstring
When: vs Liverpool - 13 August
Out: Unknown
Chelsea's new captain didn't get his season off to a good start after picking up a hamstring injury during the Blues' opening day draw with Liverpool. James is undoubtedly one of the best full-backs in the Premier League, but his injury history is deeply concerning.
The 23-year-old has missed 63 games for Chelsea since the beginning of 2020 as a result of injury across 13 different spells. The right-back has had rotten luck with his fitness and Chelsea have tended to falter without him in the side.
Simply put, Pochettino needs him back as soon as possible, but he could still be missing for a number of weeks.
Moises Caicedo
Injury: Knee
When: International break - mid-September
Out: Unknown, still to be assessed
The £115m English record signing Caicedo has not enjoyed the best start at Stamford Bridge, with concerns now emerging over his fitness as well after returning from Ecuador over the international break.
The midfielder suffered a slight knock to his knee in South America and is set to be assessed by Chelsea's medical staff. Pochettino will be keeping his fingers crossed that it's nothing too serious, with the Argentine's midfield options beginning to dwindle.
Caicedo is beginning to build an effective partnership with Enzo Fernandez in central midfield, but a spell on the sidelines could prevent that relationship from blossoming.
Christopher Nkunku
Injury: Knee
When: vs Borussia Dortmund (friendly) - 3 August
Out: Unknown
Nkunku's injury before the season began was a sign of things to come. The attacker finally completed his long-awaited switch to Stamford Bridge, only to pick up a serious injury in a friendly clash in early August.
As a result, another one of Chelsea's shiny summer acquisitions is yet to feature for the Blues in a competitive match, and Nkunku could be missing until 2024.
There are hopes he could return before the end of the year, but that could be wishful thinking.
Wesley Fofana
Injury: Knee
When: Training - mid-July
Out: Unknown, very unlikely to play in 2023
Fofana's career in England has been marred by some significant injuries at both Leicester City and Chelsea, with the centre-back facing another extended spell on the sidelines.
The French defender underwent surgery on an ACL injury in mid-July and is expected to be out for a significant chunk of the season.
Fofana has already had several two-month spells in the treatment room for Chelsea, as well as missing seven months with a fibula fracture during his time at the King Power Stadium.
Romeo Lavia
Injury: Ankle
When: Training - early September
Out: Unknown, could be out for several weeks at the least
Having not been able to don a blue jersey yet after his £58m summer move, Lavia has not had much luck at the beginning of his Chelsea career.
The Belgian picked up an ankle injury in training just before the international break and is expected to be missing for some time amid speculation he has torn a muscle.
With Caicedo also now a doubt, Lavia's absence leaves Pochettino short in midfield once more.
Carney Chukwuemeka
Injury: Knee
When: vs West Ham - 20 August
Out: Until late October
Having been trusted with two starts by Pochettino in the opening games of the Premier League season, Chukwuemeka will have been bitterly disappointed to have picked up an injury against West Ham United.
The midfielder suffered a knee injury at London Stadium after scoring earlier in the game and had to undergo surgery at the end of August. While he should return towards the end of October, the youngster is still undergoing his rehabilitation, with his recovery date potentially being pushed back should he suffer any setbacks.
Benoit Badiashile
Injury: Hamstring
When: Training - 23 May
Out: Back in training, could return in the next few games
Badiashile has missed the entire season for Chelsea after sustaining a hamstring injury last May. The centre-back has been out for almost four months having only arrived at Stamford Bridge last January from Monaco.
Now back in training, Badiashile is nearing his first game under Pochettino having not stepped foot on a pitch since the final game of the 2022/23 season.
The defender is unlikely to be rushed back into the starting lineup, especially with the likes of Levi Colwill, Thiago Silva and Axel Disasi all available, but it should give Pochettino a nice selection headache in the next couple of weeks providing there are no setbacks.
Noni Madueke
Injury: Muscle
When: International break - mid-September
Out: Aston Villa - 24 September
Madueke picked up a muscle injury with England's Under-21s during the international break and subsequently missed the goalless draw with Bournemouth at the weekend.
However, the winger is already back in training and should be fit to face Aston Villa in Chelsea's next league clash.
Trevoh Chalobah
Injury: Hamstring
When: vs Fulham (friendly) - 30 July
Out: Until October
Despite looking close to a Chelsea exit late in the transfer window, Chalobah will play his football at Stamford Bridge until at least January. The centre-back has been missing since picking up an injury halfway through pre-season, meaning he is yet to feature under Pochettino.
Chelsea are hopeful he could return soon despite not putting an official timeline on his recovery and there are suggestions he could make his way back into the first-team picture in early to mid-October.
Armando Broja
Injury: Knee
When: vs Aston Villa (friendly) - 11 December 2022
Out: End of September, back in training now
A somewhat forgotten man at Stamford Bridge, Broja is expected to return to first-team action soon. The striker has been missing since tearing his cruciate ligament and being stretchered off in a friendly last December during the World Cup break.
Chelsea's lack of clinical attacking options has been a theme of the opening weeks of the new campaign and Broja could provide a solution. However, the Albanian forward has missed nine months through injury and will take a fair amount of time to get back up to match speed.
Marcus Bettinelli
Injury: Knee
When: Training - 26 April
Out: Until October, expected to return to training at the end of September
Chelsea's poor start to the campaign can hardly be blamed on the absence of Bettinelli given he has featured just once for the Blues since arriving in 2021, but it remains another injury to add to the list.
Having been injured since late April, Bettinelli missed the entire of pre-season, but is expected to return to training in late September.
The arrival of Djordje Petrovic means Bettinelli will return to his position as third-choice goalkeeper.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Chelsea injury crisis: The players Mauricio Pochettino is missing.
