{"id":7045,"date":"2026-10-07T11:54:06","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T11:54:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=7045"},"modified":"2026-10-07T11:54:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T11:54:06","slug":"zinedine-zidane-says-chelsea-have-a-quality-player-that-really-impressed-him-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=7045","title":{"rendered":"Zinedine Zidane says Chelsea have a ‘quality’ player that really impressed him this week"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"\/ Add to Preferred Sources<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Chelsea\u2019s players are set to return to Cobham over the next couple of days as the international break comes to an end \u2013 and one player will be full of confidence after catching Zinedine Zidane\u2019s eye.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Argentina\u2019s 3-0 win over Benin during the early hours of the morning saw the last of Chelsea\u2019s<\/a> players take to the field, in what was Lionel Messi\u2019s final outing. Emi Martinez started and finished in goal.<\/p>\n

\n

Yet to keep a clean sheet for Chelsea, Martinez kept three clean sheets for Argentina while Valentin Barco remained on the bench. But it was a different Chelsea midfielder who impressed Zidane this week.<\/p>\n

Zinedine Zidane applauds Romeo Lavia for a \u201cquality\u201d moment<\/h2>\n

All Chelsea fans will have watched it by now. Lavia picks the ball up in the middle of his own half and slams a gorgeous, eye-of-the-needle pass into Dodi Lukebakio. The Benfica star did the rest for Belgium.<\/p>\n

The assist delighted Belgian fans<\/a>, and while Zidane\u2019s subs changed the game \u2013 scoring four goals in the last 13 minutes \u2013 Lavia caught the eye. France manager Zidane applauded Chelsea\u2019s \u00a358m midfielder.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n

With Enzo Fernandez gone and Lamine Camara staying at Monaco, who should partner Moises Caicedo in midfield this season?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"Romeo<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t watch his individual performance because I was keeping an eye on my own players, but I really liked his pass, yes,\u201d Zidane said during his post-match press conference after France had beaten Belgium.<\/p>\n

\u201cI watched it again in the changing room at half-time, during the analysis. He\u2019s a quality player. But he\u2019s not the only one in the Belgian team. There are plenty of them, even amongst those who came on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Xabi Alonso has got to start Romeo Lavia against Bournemouth<\/h2>\n

Lavia had started all four of Chelsea\u2019s first four Premier League matches, despite his inability to complete a full 90 minutes. He got 87 minutes during the loss to France, but he tired towards the end of the match.<\/p>\n

But against Brentford, Alonso started Barco and Jordan Henderson. Now, he has a decision to make when Chelsea face Bournemouth on Saturday, with Moises Caicedo also fit<\/a> after overcoming his calf problem.<\/p>\n

However, having just had a great few weeks with Belgium and reeling from the praise of one of the greatest midfielders to have ever played the game in Zidane, Alonso would be a fool not to start Lavia.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/svg><\/p>\n
Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n

Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\"\"\/ Add to Preferred Sources<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n