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Maresca vindicated as Chelsea suffer fresh Crystal Palace blow
Tom Weber
- Updated: 17 Aug 2025 08:48 BST
- 4 min read
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Tosin Adarabioyo is the latest Chelsea defender to be ruled out of the season opener against Crystal Palace.
The Blues will take on the Eagles at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon in their first competitive game after winning the Club World Cup in the US. Pre-season has been a mostly upbeat experience, with Chelsea bringing in a host of fresh faces, as has been the case every year under Todd Boehly.
Results-wise, too, there has been nothing to complain about, and yet, Enzo Maresca will not be entirely happy heading into the season opener against Crystal Palace.
Compared
Wesley Fofana
D (CR)
Chelsea
Wesley Fofana
D (CR)
Chelsea
VS
Tosin Adarabioyo
D (C)
Chelsea
Tosin Adarabioyo
D (C)
Chelsea
|
|
ETV |
|
| €25.2M - €30.8M | ETV Range | €21.1M - €25.8M |
| 24 years old (17 Dec, 2000) | Age | 27 years old (24 Sep, 1997) |
|
France
|
Nationality |
England
|
That is because the Italian will have to make do with a makeshift defence. Wesley Fofana has been out since last season with a hamstring injury and, although he is back fit, is unlikely to be ready to start.
Levi Colwill will miss the majority of the season after suffering an ACL injury on Chelsea's return to training, and Maresca has now been dealt a fresh blow.
Tosin to miss Palace clash
According to Peter Rutzler of The Times, Tosin Adarabioyo will also be unavailable for Chelsea's clash with Palace. His absence is described as a 'precautionary measure' after he felt a 'small issue' in training.
Chelsea do not want to risk aggravating the problem and will therefore not use Tosin, Rutzler reports. This will be a source of further frustration - and vindication - for Maresca, who has been pushing for the Blues to sign another centre-back.
However, as things stand, Chelsea's hierarchy is not planning to dip into the market for any more defensive reinforcements. On the contrary, players like Renato Veiga, Josh Acheampong, Axel Disasi and Trevoh Chalobah continue to be linked with moves away.
Losing Tosin will be a massive blow for Maresca as he believes that he is the only defender capable of adequately deputising for Colwill. “When we build, we build with Levi in the middle,” Maresca explained this week.
"It’s different to playing on the left side. Last year we played 64 games and we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin. Now Levi is out. The only one who can do that job well is Tosin.
“The one in the middle is the one that recognises solutions, he is the one most of the time that has to break lines, and in my way they are so, so important.”
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