What are the big hidden problems in Chelsea’s supposedly perfect squad?
Chelsea have had a fantastic start to the season, thanks in part to their brilliant early manoeuvres in the transfer window. This impression has only been exaggerated by the struggles of all their main rivals. Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and both Manchester clubs have struggled to different degrees this season; making Chelsea’s season (and summer) look even better.
But this strong start has lead to ridiculous speculation, not only about whether the Blues could remain “invincible” for the rest of the year, but also as to whether Jose Mourinho has assembled a “perfect” squad.
It has a fantastically talented first team, and plenty of good players on the bench, but that is not a perfect squad. In fact, there are several serious holes in this Chelsea side which could cost them dearly as the season goes on. Here are the five big problems with the current squad:
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5) No cover for Cesc Fabregas
The signing of the summer in many respects, Cesc Fabregas’ arrival at Chelsea has revolutionised the way that they play, and been the key factor in the development of last year’s strong but limited side into the dominant team playing this season.
The problem with this reliance is becoming clear as the season wears on. Cesc Fabregas cannot play every single week, and having let Frank Lampard go, Chelsea have no alternatives to the Spaniard.
Ramires is too careless in possession, Jon Obi Mikel too laborious; and Oscar is needed further forward (we’ll come to that later…). Cesc Fabregas is a key player in the first team, and he has not one adequate replacement.
4) No alternatives for Eden Hazard
While Cesc Fabregas is the most important factor in Chelsea’s new style, he is still reliant on the players further forward to actually break through the opposition’s defence. The weight of that attacking onus falls on Hazard, and often in games Chelsea’s strategy seems to just be to get the Belgian winger the ball and let him stretch the opposition.
That’s all when and good when he’s fit, but if he were to suffer an injury, Chelsea have no replacement. Hazard is so good that his team are becoming ever more reliant on his abilities, and in games where he isn’t at his best, like last weekend against Sunderland, they look devoid of aggression in the final third.
3) Lack of wide options
Chelsea have lots of wingers, but they’re all very similar. The hard-working winger is clearly what Jose Mourinho favours – he has bought André Schurrle and Willian, plays Ramires out wide and has even forced Eden Hazard to track back.
This is all well and good, but it means that Chelsea have no attacking wingers – apart from Hazard (and Mohamed Salah, who doesn’t count). In the later stages of the Champions League wingers who want to defend are all well and good, but players with a good work rate don’t offer much when you’re trying to break down a Sunderland team with XI men in their own area for 90 minutes.
2) No true number 10s
Chelsea’s great transfer businesses has been built on the sales they’ve made. Last January they sold Juan Mata and Kevin de Bruyne for large fees, and were able to bring in Nemanja Matic, who they needed much more, in return.
Those deals were irresistible, especially for those sums, but it has left Chelsea with a dearth of playmakers. Oscar plays there now, but there are no alternatives to the Brazilian. If he gets injured, or drastically loses form (as he did just 12 months ago), Mourinho’s only option is to play Cesc Fabregas in the hole. And who was the only replacement for Fabregas in midfield? Oscar.
1) Lack of English players
This is a long term issues, but the departure of Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole in the summer leaves only John Terry and Gary Cahill as English players in the first team. John Terry probably only has one year left in him (though we seem to say that every year), so Chelsea are in desperate need of English players to fulfil their various domestic and European quotas.
There are of course the young players – Dom Solanke, Izzy Brown etc – who are apparently going to be playing in the first team soon, but we’ve heard this every year since Terry broke into the first team, so nobody is holding their breath.