Chelsea centre-back Wesley Fofana is said to be far more optimistic about recovering from a hamstring injury before the end of the season than his manager Enzo Maresca.
The French defender was forced off after an hour Chelsea win 3-0 over Aston Villa on December 1, but initially dismissed the problem as nothing more than a “slight muscular warning” that was “nothing serious”.
Maresca’s initial diagnosis was between three and five weeks. After more than a month, Fofana remains on the sidelines and is expected to remain there. Chelsea’s manager claimed to be his central defender “could be out for the season” on Friday.
Fofana strongly disagrees with this long timeline of reports from L’Equipe he claimed. The French publication suggests the former Leicester City defender has suffered a hamstring injury and has refused surgery – which would have guaranteed at least three months on the sidelines.
By not going under the knife – which was reportedly questioned by some staff members within the club – Fofana expects to dramatically shorten his recovery time. Fabrizio Romano claimed the 24-year-old is aiming to return before the end of March – months ahead of Maresca’s schedule.
Some suggest that Maresca deliberately exaggerated Fofana’s absence by force Chelseahand when it comes to January reinforcements. Boss of the Blues he already hinted with the possibility of an active winter transfer window. Along with Fofana, Benoit Badiashile will be sidelined until February and Reece James is not guaranteed fitness.
If Fofana is to be believed, he will return before the end of the campaign to compete with the new recruits. The defender’s optimistic attitude was captured by his New Year’s announcement on social networks, which read: “Joys, disappointments, but always this constant desire to be better than the previous day. I will continue to fight. It’s in my DNA.”
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