New arrivals Marco Palestra and Pep Chavarria have yet to establish themselves at the club. Palestra is awaiting his Chelsea debut after a £47m switch, while Chavarria has started only one league game, a 3-0 defeat. Maxence Lacroix and Emi Martinez have faced their own challenges since joining.
There is concern about Martinez’s form, with discussions about whether he is the goalkeeper he used to be. Lacroix, meanwhile, was dropped for a match against Brentford. All four cost around £130m, and Chelsea have already conceded 12 goals in five Premier League matches, underscoring the immediate pressure on the new defensive unit.
Mateta and Lacroix share a close bond, stemming from two seasons at Crystal Palace that yielded an FA Cup, Community Shield, and Europa Conference League triumphs. Both players have represented France, and Mateta has spoken about how Lacroix’s move to Chelsea could benefit his national team ambitions.
“The move is great for him, and I’m happy for him. He’s now more established with the French team,” Mateta said. “He did well at Palace. It’s natural that a big club would want him.”
Lacroix’s early Chelsea form has drawn some criticism, but he is well-suited to manager Mauricio Alonso’s system. He has experience in a back three from his time at Palace and often played through the middle.
To unlock Lacroix’s potential, a settled defensive structure is essential. The defender needs a stable partner at center-back and dependable support from full-backs. If Alonso identifies Wesley Fofana as the right option and Levi Colwill on the left, he should maintain those selections to allow Lacroix to develop chemistry with them. Consistency and balance in the back line are key to extracting the best from Lacroix.
