No one expected Chelsea to be sitting with one point after two games. Granted they have had a tougher start than any other top teams – Swansea is not to be taken lightly and Manchester City is obviously a serious opposition – but the lack of wins have become a bigger concern considering the manner in which the defending champions have been playing.
The team which was tipped to be the first in many years to defend their title, are now the first crisis story of the season. The new season is only 2 weeks old, so naturally these concerns are premature. However, these skeptics have a point. It is the club’s worst start since 1998, which goes before the Abramovich era. And let’s not forget that Chelsea also started the league at the back of a Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.
Many things can be discussed and cited as reasons for the dip in form, for such a lacklustre start, but we will focus on one today – Cesc Fabregas.
Fabregas started his Chelsea career in top fashion. His immediate connection with compatriot Diego Costa was hugely impressive and it wouldn’t be wrong to suggest that he played an extremely important part in the club’s title. However, the Spaniard went through a dip in form in the latter half of the season, continuing the unfortunate reputation he has carried in recent times. When the former Arsenal captain’s form dipped near Christmas, so did Chelsea’s. The Blues didn’t really have a rival keeping them on their toes and their emphatic start to the season meant that despite a relative loss in form and panache, they still won the title comfortably.
Unfortunately, Fabregas has yet not snapped out of that form and is becoming a passenger or liability for the Blues.
“He lacks tactical intelligence, especially defensively. That’s one of the reasons Barcelona let Chelsea take him”, said Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football. Chelsea fans may abuse the Kop idol for these comments, but this realization is starting to set in.
The midfield pivot of Fabregas and Matic worked last season but right now, playing him alongside the Serbian is not helping the team’s cause as the midfield is getting overrun on more than one occasion.
Against Manchester City, Fabregas looked as though he was unsure what he was meant to be, an attacking midfielder or a defensive one. In the process, he couldn’t be either. Because he seemed to be caught in two minds at the same time, he couldn’t help Matic against the likes of Silva, Aguero and Toure. There were far too many uncalled for situations where the City attackers found it too easy to bombard through the middle of the pitch. He didn’t offer the defenders any protection and in addition to that, didn’t do anything worthy of note in the attack department as well.
Nemanja Matic is arguably the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League, but he needs someone to share the burden of the midfield duties and Fabregas seemingly cannot be the one to rise to this duty.
Juan Mata was sold to Manchester United because he failed to adapt to the Mourinho way. Last season, we saw the likes of Hazard and Willian up and mould their game by becoming more useful defensively. They tracked back to offer the defenders protection. Fabregas was not very effective in the defensive department last season as well, but because he was doing so well, pulling the strings attack-wise, this problem could be easily ignored. Now, it seemingly can’t.
Chelsea need to bring in a midfield enforcer to partner up with the Serb in the middle, someone who can offer that physical presence, especially for big games. This is not to suggest that the Blues need to get rid of the Spanish international (in fact, it would be incredibly naive to say that), but Mourinho needs this addition more than any other, especially for big games. This would also mean that Fabregas will be relieved of this extra burden and will be able to solely focus on the attack facet of things.
We still have two weeks to go before the transfer window shuts, and even though it seems unlikely that the Portuguese boss will bring someone in, it is ideal.
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