How will the Chelsea boss adapt his side without Cesc? Here are three possibilities.
Chelsea face a real test against Hull City on Saturday with Cesc Fabregas suspended, and José Mourinho will need to decide how to reshuffle his side to accommodate the absence of his creative midfielder.
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Option 1: Eden Hazard in the hole, Oscar alongside Nemanja Matic
Advantages: This system allows André Schurrle to come into the side. The German scored against Sporting in midweek, and is pressing for another opportunity in the first team. It also allows Hazard to try his luck in the centre, where he can roam and around and find space between the lines, and will be in better shooting positions.
Disadvantages: Hazard has been extremely effective playing from the left, and Chelea risk disrupting that by moving him inside. Oscar has also done well behind the strikers, and playing him deeper, out of position might not work.Option 2: Ramires alongside Matic, Schurrle on the right
Advantages: Ramires is a much more defensive player than Oscar, and will shield the defence much better. With Ramires alongside Matic in the centre, there is not as much need to play the hard-working Willian on the right. The Brazilian has disappointed in recent weeks, and André Schurrle deserves a chance.
Disadvantages: While a hard worker, Ramires lacks any of the quality in possesion that Fabregas has, and with Hull presumably sitting deep, neither Ramires nor Schurrle will really be able to exploit their pace on the break.Option 3: Matic alone, with four attacking midfielders
Advantages: Given Hull are likely to be sitting very deep, there’s no real need for Matic to have a dedicated partner. As long as Oscar and Willian do their defensive duties with their usual diligence, Chelsea can play four attackers behind Costa to batter down the Hull defences.
Disadvantages: While Chelsea struggled to break down Sunderland in their last home game, they also left themselves exposed on the break as they swarmed forward towards the end. José Mourinho will probably put caution first, at least to start with.