Rosenior Reintegrates Disasi as Chelsea Faces Defensive Challenges

Liam Rosenior has officially reinstated Axel Disasi into Chelsea’s first team. The 27-year-old defender had become a sidelined figure, having not played for the Blues since a Premier League match against Wolverhampton on January 20, 2025. After a loan stint at Aston Villa and failing to secure a permanent transfer last summer, Disasi had been training alone, effectively resigning to the club’s notorious ‘bomb squad.’

However, Rosenior’s arrival has changed the dynamics considerably. Prior to Chelsea’s Champions League fixture against Pafos, the new manager disclosed that he engaged in direct talks with the French international to refresh their relationship. “I had a really productive meeting with him a couple of days ago,” Rosenior stated. “I wanted to understand where he currently stands in his career. When I came in, I made it clear that it’s a fresh start for everyone.”

Rosenior underscored that the decision was merit-based and in the best interest of team cohesion, although he did caution that Disasi has a lengthy journey ahead to regain match fitness. “Due to his current situation, he is behind in terms of fitness. We will work diligently with him to get him back up to speed,” he remarked.

The decision to bring Disasi back into the fold has likely been expedited by a frustrating injury to Tosin Adarabioyo. The 28-year-old center-back, a reliable figure this season, sustained a hamstring injury during the 2-0 win against Brentford over the weekend. Scans have confirmed that he will be sidelined for the foreseeable future. “Unfortunately for Tosin, there’s a hamstring issue that will keep him out for several weeks,” Rosenior confirmed on Tuesday. “However, I cannot provide a precise timeline at this moment.”

Losing Tosin reduces Chelsea’s defensive options during an already congested fixture schedule. While Disasi is not yet prepared to step directly into the starting lineup for the upcoming European match, his presence in training offers Rosenior additional depth and experienced coverage while the medical team focuses on rehabilitating Tosin.

In contrast to Disasi’s reinstatement, the future of Raheem Sterling appears bleak. The 31-year-old winger has not returned to first-team training and seems to have played his final match for the club. Despite the managerial change, the club’s stance on Sterling remains unchanged, with both management and the board in agreement about offloading the high earner this month.

Rosenior was forthright about the situation, suggesting that talks regarding Sterling’s future are ongoing. “We’re currently in discussions about various options in his career,” the manager noted. “I hope we will have clearer updates in the coming days.”

Interest in Disasi continues to be robust, with clubs from England, Italy, and France keeping an eye on his progress. Chelsea reportedly prefers a permanent sale; however, Disasi’s reintegration into training signals that Rosenior values his involvement, unlike Sterling, whose departure seems imminent.

On a positive note, Rosenior received encouraging news about the overall fitness of his squad ahead of Wednesday’s encounter with Pafos. The illness that had affected several players appears to have diminished, with Estevao, Malo Gusto, and Jamie Gittens all cleared for selection after missing the victory against Brentford.

Additionally, there is optimism regarding Enzo Fernandez. The midfielder played through an illness during the weekend and missed training on Monday as a precaution, but he returned to the pitch on Tuesday. Rosenior will make a final decision on the Argentine’s participation closer to kick-off, but the return of key attacking players like Estevao is a welcome boost as Chelsea aims to solidify their position in the Champions League.