Badiashile feels 'free' after 'tough' injury spell

Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile admits his injury-hit spell at the club has been "tough" but insists he now feels "free".

The 24-year-old joined Chelsea in a £35m move from Monaco in January 2023 and was one of the few players to impress immediately during a turbulent season.

However, a serious hamstring injury late in that campaign derailed his progress and further setbacks over the following two seasons - including another hamstring problem that ruled him out midway through Chelsea's successful Club World Cup run - hampered his development.

Now, after two months without any setbacks, Badiashile is optimistic about staying fit. "I am much better than before - I feel really good," Badiashile told BBC Sport.

"I had a lot of injuries, but now I can say I'm free. The most important thing is to stay fit. It was tough for me, really tough, but I had my family around me so it was easier to handle this type of situation. I've been working hard during my rehabilitation with the medical staff."

While his recent performances have been mixed, Badiashile earned widespread praise for his display in Chelsea's 2-1 home win over Liverpool in October, especially given he had just returned from injury.

"I just wanted to be prepared to play and to perform and that's what happened, so I was happy," he added.

The Frenchman admits Chelsea fans have yet to see his best form. "I had a lot of injuries so it was really difficult to build big momentum - if I can say it like this - but now I'm focused on the future. The past is the past and I can't do anything about it."

Chelsea next host Arsenal in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday, before Brentford visit Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday.