Manager confirms fresh injury setback for incoming Chelsea player – Concern for Blues
Last September, Chelsea reached an agreement with Strasbourg for Emmanuel Emegha to arrive at Stamford Bridge this summer.
BlueCo own both Chelsea and the Ligue 1 side and this connection facilitates easy transfers.
Liam Rosenior was Strasbourg manager when the Blues agreed terms for the striker’s sale. At that time, it didn’t please the French club’s supporters, who made their feelings clear.
In September 2025, Rosenior said the player was angry at the reaction from the French club’s fans.
Last season, he managed 14 goals and three assists and his form for Strasbourg saw him receive a call up from the Netherlands in November. The same month, the player said he’s happy to secure a future move to the Premier League side.
Injury concern for incoming Chelsea man
The Netherlands international’s current fitness situation won’t please Chelsea.
The Netherlands international returned from a long injury break last month. He has now picked up a fresh blow in RC Strasbourg’s 2-1 defeat to Toulouse FC on Sunday.
Emmanuel Emegha came on in the 82nd minute to replace Sebastian Nanasi and suffered a new setback.
Strasbourg manager Gary O’Neil confirmed this, and ICI Alsace took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to relay his comments. The 23-year-old is unlikely to feature in the UEFA Conference League semi-final clash against Rayo Vallecano on Thursday.
“I haven’t received a report from the medical staff yet. But if you have hamstring pain on Sunday, it seems complicated you’d be able to play on Thursday. We’ve managed to win games without Emma this season,” he said.
L’Equipe also relay more comments from O’Neil about the incoming Chelsea striker.
The manager explained he wanted to avoid risk with certain players for yesterday’s clash, but his decision with Emegha seems to have backfired.
“If I field my best players, we beat Toulouse, but the medical staff told us not to,” O’Neil explained.
“He (Emegha) could have played fifteen minutes, I gave him ten thinking he could help us and to reduce the risk, but he got injured.”
Our take: Big concern for Blues
Emmanuel Emegha has struggled with muscle injuries this season. Last August, he picked up an hamstring injury that kept him on the sidelines for 29 days.
In December, the frontman had a muscle fibre tear for which he spent 113 days away from the pitch and only returned to action in April.
He now suffers another hamstring injury and it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to feature again this season. The regular muscle problems so far this season should be a concern for Chelsea.
