Chelsea midfielder Roméo Lavia would have been in Belgium’s Golden Generation if he’d been born earlier.
That’s according to analyst Filip Joos, via Voetbal Primeur, who was left very impressed by the midfielder’s display in the 4-3 win over Tottenham.
Voetbal Primeur cover comments from him today made to Extra Time, in which he lavished praise on the 20-year-old Belgian.
Lavia has bounced back from the injury problems that plagued his first season at Stamford Bridge following is move from Southampton this season.
He’s been a regular in Enzo Maresca’s side this season, making nine appearances in the Premier League so far after missing four games earlier in the campaign with a hamstring injury.
His latest was a 45-minute appearance in the 4-3 win over Tottenham, with the Belgian withdrawn at half time in place of Malo Gusto.
On paper that appears to be a ruthless decision from Maresca but was actually part of a tactical switch that saw the Blues turn the game around and secure all three points.
Joos certainly doesn’t see a problem with it and is full of the praise for the Chelsea midfielder, even believing he could have taken a Belgian icon out of the picture if he’d been born earlier.
“He’s not normal,” he said.
“If he had been born earlier, he would always have been in the starting line-up of the Golden Generation of Devils, always.
“Axel Witsel would never have played in the 6. He has other qualities, but the passes that Lavia made against Tottenham I have never seen from Witsel.”
