Chelsea’s Romeo Lavia Reflects on Setbacks: ‘My Body Let Me Down’

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Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia has shared his experiences of overcoming personal and professional challenges in a heartfelt statement. At just 20 years old, Lavia has faced significant hurdles in his football career but remains determined and optimistic.

Lavia’s journey began when he left Anderlecht for Manchester City at the age of 16, moving alone due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite his potential, Lavia had limited first-team opportunities at City, prompting a move to Southampton at 18, where he experienced relegation in 2023. Chelsea then signed him in the summer of 2023 for £53 million, but injuries marred his debut season, limiting him to just 29 minutes under former manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Reflecting on these challenges, Lavia said, “My mum never watched a game of mine at Man City. That’s to tell you how hard it was. Even with the injuries last season, it was tough but what can you do? Turn it into a positive.”

Lavia admitted to feeling frustrated and unfairly treated due to setbacks, including a significant ankle injury and a subsequent hamstring problem. “My body let me down a couple of times,” he shared. Despite these obstacles, Lavia has used his time in pre-season to demonstrate his skills and commitment. He featured prominently during Chelsea’s U.S. tour, starting all five games and contributing two assists.

With the Premier League opener against Manchester City approaching, Lavia’s performance in pre-season has highlighted his potential to new head coach Enzo Maresca. Lavia, who had the option to join Liverpool, expressed his excitement about playing for Chelsea: “It was a no-brainer. The interest from Liverpool was there but in my head I wanted to play for Chelsea.”

Lavia, who previously worked with Maresca at Manchester City, values the opportunity to grow at Chelsea and acknowledges that building a successful team takes time. “We are building something amazing,” he said. “It’s definitely going to take time, but the confidence is there. You can see the bigger picture.”

As Chelsea prepares for the new season, Lavia is ready to contribute to the team’s success and overcome past setbacks with renewed energy and determination.