The 2014-15 Premier League Champions had a season to forget last time around as they just managed to sneak into the top half of the League table. Though the interim manager Guus Hiddink got the team machine moving, it was the case of too little too late, as their first half ensured the departure of Jose Mourinho and eventually sealed their European fate for the next season. However it’s not all doom and gloom at Stamford Bridge as current Italian manager Antonio Conte is all set to take over after the Euros finish. His target will be getting the Blues back into the top four, ensuring Champions League qualification and building a team which can produce trophies consistently for years to come.
The former Juventus manager will arrive with certain plans in his mind, that will include the names of the players who he wants to buy this summer. After having been linked with a host of international stars this summer, recent reports suggest that Chelsea are monitoring River Plate youngster Emanuel Mammana and are discussing over submitting a formal bid for him.
Born on 10th February 1996 in the town of Merlo in the west of Greater Buenos Aires, Mammana a product of the academy at River Plate, who is now 20 years old is one of the most exciting prospects currently playing in Argentina. Having made his debut for the national side even before making his first team appearance for his club, speaks volumes of his talent and abilities. Before the 2014 World Cup, Injuries to Martin Demichelis and Ezequiel Garay paved the way for his first appearance in national colours as he came on as a substitute for Javier Mascherano, ironically replacing the only player who had made his national debut before a first team debut in Argentina before him.
Mammana is a class act with the ball at his feet and his calm and composed approach to defending gives his team-mates around him a degree of calm even under pressure. During his early years, he played as midfielder, which bestowed him with technique and comfort on the ball, something which we don’t see in defenders at such a young age. He uses his skills brilliantly to play the ball out of the back at every opportunity.
One of his greatest strength is his ability to intercept and cut out any hint of danger, which is born out of his great positional sense. He isn’t shy from making tackles when necessary though his card count shows that rarely those tackles are out of place. Although a centre back mainly, Mammana has often been deployed as a full back, where he uses his pace and attacking instincts to get forward. Although he is still not a finished product, as often his tendency to play the ball out of the back, puts the team in dange, something Conte wont appreciate much.
Chelsea currently have three senior defenders on their payroll, which is why Conte must surely buy a reliable defender this summer. Mammana is still pretty young and with right guidance and advice, he could definitely turn into a world class defenders in the years to come. He will provide decent cover for Conte’s first choice back line and with more game time, he will only get better.