Chelsea are bracing for a spell without Maxence Lacroix after the defender was forced off shortly before half-time against Liverpool and tore the hamstrings in his left leg in the League Cup tie. Xabi Alonso said he will not be ready before the international break, while other reporting has pushed the concern further, with the possibility of a return only in 2027 still being mentioned.
Alonso's update on the injury
Speaking to So Foot in comments translated from French, Xabi Alonso said: "Max was injured and we think he will not be ready before the international break." He added: "He will therefore be out for a few weeks."
That is the firmer line Chelsea have publicly received so far. It does not rule out a longer absence, and it does not make the 2027 talk go away either, because the concern around the hamstring is still open-ended at this stage.
Chelsea's defensive problem
The immediate football issue is straightforward enough. Lacroix has already made 8 Premier League appearances for Chelsea this season and played 638 league minutes, so this is not a fringe injury to a squad player. He has been involved in all eleven of Chelsea's matches this season, and Levi Colwill replaced him against Liverpool.
Wesley Fofana has only 4 Premier League appearances this season, so the depth behind Colwill looks light if Lacroix is out for more than a short spell. Chelsea's next Premier League match is at home to Manchester United on 31 October, which puts the defensive reshuffle under pressure immediately.
France also have November fixtures to think about, with Italy on 12 November and Türkiye on 15 November. If Alonso is right and Lacroix misses the international break, those games are already in doubt, even before Chelsea get a clearer read on the longer recovery window.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
