Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says midfielder Romeo Lavia has finally overcome the persistent injury problems that have limited him since joining from Southampton in 2023. Lavia played his first full 90-minute competitive match in a Chelsea shirt against Liverpool in the English Football League Cup last week, then repeated the feat four days later in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Manchester United.
Alonso attributed Lavia's improved availability to both physical recovery and mental confidence. "We know that Romeo feels better, and that he has become stronger and more confident in his ability to play more minutes and take on a greater workload," Alonso said on Chelsea's official website. "Sometimes the mental side is more important than the physical capabilities, and now Lavia is in a good mental state."
The Chelsea manager highlighted Lavia's performance against Manchester United as evidence of a sustained upturn in form over the preceding three weeks. "It was a top-class performance," Alonso said. "His performance was very complete from a midfielder's point of view. He did a lot of good things."
Alonso praised specific aspects of Lavia's play, noting he acted as a link between defence and attacking players, switched play effectively, made sound decisions and displayed "great liveliness and a competitive spirit." He concluded: "It is not just about this match, but rather he has been producing a very good level over the past two or three weeks, and I am very happy for him."
Source: goal.com
