'It's a different problem' - Mauricio Pochettino confirms Romeo Lavia suffering from different injury he arrived with from Southampton as Chelsea nightmare continues

Pochettino's revelation adds to the mounting injury concerns plaguing the club during the 2023-24 campaign, with key players like Christopher Nkunku, Reece James, and Robert Sanchez enduring prolonged spells on the sidelines.

Lavia, who was signed for £53 million ($67m), arrived at Stamford Bridge with a pre-existing injury and his troubles were compounded by an ankle issue later on. His first taste of competitive action came in December as a substitute against Crystal Palace, but unfortunately, he sustained a thigh injury during the match. Despite initial hopes for recovery, a fresh setback has ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

Asked if Lavia's current injury is similar to the one he arrived from Southampton with, Pochettino said: "No, it's a different problem. It's difficult to explain the situation because I am not a doctor and be precise with the information. The most important thing is to make clear that in nine months, only a few weeks he was with us, training with us.

"He arrived and he could not train. When the club signed him, he was injured... I think it was his hip, or I don't know, that was the problem. Then when he started to train with us, he suffered a knock in his feet. After he was training with us for a few weeks, he was available against Wolverhampton but he didn't go in, and then against Crystal Palace he played 30 minutes and got injured in his quad and never again had the possibility to train with us."

The club's recent announcement of Trevoh Chalobah, Sanchez, and Carney Chukwuemeka as the latest casualties underscores the severity of Chelsea's injury woes. This forced Pochettino to admit that he has never experienced such a relentless string of injuries in his managerial career, further highlighting the unprecedented challenges faced by Chelsea this season.

"Before? No. Always something happens. After 15 years of being coach, maybe one season it happened like this," he added.

Lavia vented his frustration on Instagram and wrote a message for Chelsea fans that read: "Hi Chelsea family. As you may know and despite my countless efforts, I will be missing the remainder of the season. This has been a frustrating season for me, not being able to help my team-mates. I love this squad, this badge and being on the pitch more than anything. Trust that I have given my all every day to get back. Thank you for the love, support and critics because they all affect me positively and keep me going. I can’t wait to give it back and share many special moments together. See you soon."

Despite the adversity, there are glimmers of hope for Chelsea as they prepare to host Vincent Kompany's side at Stamford Bridge. The team's resilience has been evident in their recent performances, boasting an unbeaten record in all but one of their last seven fixtures across various competitions.