Published on November 28, 2024 at 6:23 p.m. Emmanuel LANGELLIER
Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi, the two French defenders, are not playing much for Chelsea this season.
Ranked 3rd in the Premier League standings – one point behind Manchester City and 9 behind Liverpool – Chelsea lead the league phase of the Europa Conference League, the 4th day of which they are playing on Thursday (6:45 p.m.). After having had 3 successes against La Gantoise (4-2), Panathinaikos (4-1) and FC Noah (8-0) by stacking 16 goals (it is by far the best attack in the C4), the Blues travel to the Heidenheim field. In Germany, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi will surely appear. Enzo Maresca likes to line up the two Frenchmen in cups. But unfortunately not too much in the Premier League…
2 Premier League appearances and 9 matches each in total
The new Chelsea coach has fielded very few defenders in the league this season: only 2 appearances each. Totally starving after the last exercise. Under the orders of Mauricio Pochettino, Disasi (26 years old) had played 44 matches and Badiashile (23 years old) 22. Since the start of the 2023-24 financial year, the two defenders have combined 18 matches (9 each) between PL and above all Europa Conference League and League Cup. “Maresca made two teams, one for the championship and another for the European Cup and national cups. His best team is the one he fields in the championship. Disasi and Badiashile are unfortunately in the second. They are behind (Wesley) Fofana and (Levi) Colwill. Disasi, who can play in all positions of defense and particularly on the right, also goes after (Malo) Gusto. This is a bit the consequence of this workforce which is very important. There is not room for everyone,” notes François Marchal, Canal+ commentator, in Nice-Matin.
Badiashile and Disasi on the move?
Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi would not be performing well enough in the eyes of the new Italian coach of the Blues. Too many technical, physical and mental shortcomings compared to the other elements favored by Maresca. They also pay for the departure of the experienced Thiago Silva alongside whom they were regularly aligned. The two former Monaco players can do nothing but hang on. “ “The coach didn’t explain to me why (he doesn’t play in the PL). Chelsea is a big club and I understand the difficulties to succeed here, but I will do my best to achieve it. The only thing I can do is work hard and convince the coach to play me,” Badiashile said before the victory against FC Noah. As for Disasi, he makes do with what he has, notably with the captain’s armband, worn twice on his arm this season. “It shows that the team and the coach believe in me,” he reacted after the 3rd round of the League Cup against Barrow (5-0) in September. So I’m very proud to have been captain for the first time. » Recruited for 45 and 38 million euros in 2023, Badiashile and Disasi could be led to think about leaving soon if their playing time does not increase. Even if the first one said he wanted to stay. Badiashile would be followed by OM and Juventus Turin.
