Chelsea star back in training with first-team

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January 20, 2026 18:52 GMT (UK), by Sri Aswin

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has confirmed that defender Axel Disasi has returned back to full training ahead of the Champions League clash against Pafos at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

The Blues take on Pafos on the seventh matchday of the European competition, and they need a victory to keep themselves in contention for a top-eight finish in the league phase.

Ahead of the encounter, Rosenior has revealed that Disasi is back training with the main group, having been sidelined from the first-team squad under the former regime of Enzo Maresca.

He said: “I had a really good meeting with him. I said to the players when I came in, it’s a clean slate. It was the right thing to be back involved in the group. We will keep working really hard to get him back up to speed.”

Disasi was a key player for the Blues when he arrived from Monaco few years ago, but he has gone out of the picture over the last 12 months.

The Frenchman could have easily moved out on loan last summer, but he was not tempted to make the switch to West Ham United on deadline day.

Rosenior has now decided to integrate the centre-back into the squad, and he could play some part during the back end of the campaign.