Chelsea restructure aims to improve injury record

Chelsea have completed a restructure to help improve their recent poor injury record, appointing Craig Roberts as the club’s new head of performance.

Roberts arrives after spells with the Football Association (FA), AFC Bournemouth and the South African rugby team, replacing Dimitrios Kalogiannidis, who left Chelsea in January after 14 years, and is part of a widespread change behind the scenes in the medical departments at Stamford Bridge.

The South African is part of a multi-pronged department led by director of performance Bryce Kavanagh, who joined last year.

Head of performance sciences Nick Chadd, lead performance therapist Meirion Jones, head of performance insights Richard Akenhead Ph.D and Doctor Steve Lewis complete the high-level department under Kavanagh’s control. In turn, they are led by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart and Enzo Maresca’s staff, particularly his fitness coach Marcos Alvarez.

The Blues have acknowledged previously that there has been upheaval in this area but believe their new structure will ultimately improve the club's poor injury record, which has been ongoing since the final year of Roman Abramovich's ownership and continued into the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital era.

Chelsea suffered the second most injuries last season in the Premier League behind Manchester United. They also lost players to injuries for more days than all but two teams, which were Newcastle and Sheffield United.