Chelsea have been searching for a centre-back who can provide both consistency on the pitch and leadership at the back for several years. Since John Terry’s retirement, Antonio Rudiger’s departure and, more recently, Thiago Silva leaving in 2024, that need has remained clear. Now, Maxence Lacroix could be the player to finally step forward and fill that role.
When Chelsea signed the Frenchman from Crystal Palace in the summer transfer window, many applauded this signing as he could possibly be the one who would be a mainstay in the Chelsea side for years to come and in his opening two months at the club, Lacroix has been a standout in Xabi Alonso's XI.
His opening performances for the Blues have impressed new France manager Zinedine Zidane, starting the 26-year-old in three out of France's four Nations League fixtures. Lacroix has always been waiting in the wings as first reserve in case of an injury, as happened with William Saliba during the World Cup.
If the Arsenal defender is not fit to return before the start of the next international break in November, then many would believe that Lacroix would be given the starting role by Zidane again, even with France's embarrassment of riches in defence.
Even before the international break, Lacroix had been a favourite for Alonso, playing 90 minutes in four of their first five Premier League matches, but his recent showings in the heart of Les Bleus' defence will only solidify his place as one of Alonso's dependables.
The importance of Lacroix to both Chelsea and France can't be underestimated. In the games in which he played 90 minutes across the international break, the French won all three of them, with a 4-1 win over Belgium being the most recent.
The only concern Chelsea will have with the Frenchman is that he has played a lot of football since the start of the season, only been benched for two games and has played the full complement in the rest. With a busy period coming up, Chelsea might have to rotate to protect their talismanic centre-half, especially off the back of three full matches in quick succession.
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