Chelsea have signed some crucial players this season which would help them gain some extra depth and quality in their squad for the long 2014-15 campaign. The team looks very strong and sharp on paper and Chelsea look all set to dominate the Premier League and contend for the Champions League as well.
Mourinho had said last season that he would make surgical changes to Chelsea this season in order to make them real contenders. We saw some iconic Chelsea players leave the club like Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole. Then we saw a big number of players being loaned, as it happens always, notably the loaning of superstar striker Fernando Torres to AC Milan, who has had a torrid time in Chelsea scoring only 20 goals in 110 PL Appearances after his then British record 50 million pounds transfer from Liverpool.
As new look Chelsea look to take on the world this season, we rate each of the Blues’ signing out of 5.
Diego Costa- 4.5/5
The Brazilian born Spaniard was bought for £32m from Atletico, where he had scored 36 goals in 52 appearances last season, despite being unfit for quite some time in the latter stages. He has been the perfect striker signing for Chelsea as he fits the bill like bacon! He has been outstanding in the first three games of the Premier League where he has scored 4 goals and is already on top of the scoring charts. Costa’s running ability, strength and finishing are key aspects of his game, but he also shows good amount of technique and vision to play in closed spaces. He reminds the viewers of a younger Fernando Torres in Liverpool colors, having the flair and the power, though Nando used to be a faster yet less strong version of Costa.
Nevertheless, he alone can score a lot of goals this season and propel Chelsea to the title with his hunger to score goals.
The only issue with Costa can be his fitness worries. Yes, he was overutilised despite injuries in the latter stages of his Atletico career, but his injury niggles are more due to his hard running. Chelsea may get a bit crippled if Costa is injured in the business end of the season.
Cesc Fabregas- 5/5
A perfect and unbelievable signing for the Blues. Chelsea always needed a technically gifted midfielder in the centre of the park especially after Lampard crossing his prime in style. Fabregas offers a lot of quality and experience in midfield. His versatility in playing a deep midfield role as well as an advanced midfield position make him a very crucial option tactically as well. He looks the real deal in the Premier League in the same way like he always did while captaining the Gunners. He has the work rate and the vision to run the game for the Blues and he has also now given Chelsea the key to lock tight defences of particularly weaker teams.
He has now assisted 4 times in 3 games and looks set to feed Costa many times in the season.
Filipe Luis- 3.5/5
Luis is a top quality left back, but unlike expected, he was not signed to be a first choice player. Instead Jose Mourinho prefers the hard playing Cesar Azpilicueta in the left back spot. Luis is a more overall left back who would do both the attacking as well as defending parts, more so with some crucial overalaps giving width to the team. But early in the Premier League season, Luis is more of a back up for the defensive Cesar Azpilicueta.
He is expected to start games later in the season with Azpi shifting to the right side and Ivanovic shifting central, especially as John Terry is ageing and could need replacement in the middle of the season. As of now, Luis looks like a really top quality signing who adds depth and tactical options to the side, but it looks a bit harsh on the player to be bought as a second choice.
Loic Remy- 4/5
Remy is the perfect back-up striker for Costa and can surely score goals. One way to keep Costa fresh and fit is by substituting him after some 70 odd minutes, mostly when the game is killed. Remy can be more than a handful to the defences with his explosive pace and sharp finishing. He is a very direct striker and does strike the ball sweet. He would love playing for Chelsea with Fabregas providing killer through passes all the time.
A great addition to the team, Remy has the opportunity to help Chelsea achieve trophies. The only worry about him may be because he failed the medical at Liverpool, because of which there might be some hidden doubts cast over his fitness.
Didier Drogba- 4/5
Chelsea’s legend returning back to the Bridge was a fairy tale situation nobody thought of. The Ivorian is signed back by Mourinho as a player who still has the ability to provide to the team solely based on ability on the pitch. He is likely to be a substitute for the Blues, regularly coming off the bench and featuring in cup games. He also boosts the dressing room with his experience with the club and his charismatic nature. Drogba is older and slower now, and there are doubts over his ability to keep himself fit to be a reasonable contributor for the Blues, even as a third choice.