Alonso hails Lavia's full return as Chelsea beats AC Milan in Jakarta
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso praised midfielder Romeo Lavia after the Blues's 3-0 pre-season friendly win over AC Milan at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Saturday. Lavia played the full 90 minutes, marking his first complete match since August 4, 2024, when he faced Manchester City in a pre-season game. Joao Pedro scored twice before halftime and Moises Caicedo added a third-minute-into-the-second-half volley to seal the victory, while Lavia dictated midfield tempo and disrupted the Milan rhythm alongside defenders Robert Sanchez, Josh Acheampong and Marco Palestra.
The performance is a positive signal for Chelsea's midfield depth as the new season approaches. Lavia, a 22-year-old Belgian, had been sidelined by injury for over two years; his return to full fitness gives manager Alonso another option in central midfield and could ease the workload on existing stars. For Nigerian fans who follow the Premier League, this indicates Chelsea may field a fresher, more balanced squad in the coming months, potentially affecting match outcomes and fantasy league values.
Will Lavia sustain this level of play and win a regular starting spot, or will he rotate with other midfielders? Keeping an eye on his minutes in early Premier League fixtures could help you decide whether to include him in your fantasy squad or adjust your match predictions.