Over the coming weeks, Mr. Olutayo will be profiling each of the top four teams (or 6 – if he can be tempted to indulge) from last season’s Barclays Premier League contest, providing in-depth analysis on these clubs in terms of tactics, personnel and ultimately looking to make a prediction on where they stand to finish come May. This week he begins with the Champions; Chelsea Football Club.
The Special One
They say Mourinho alone will be worth 10 Premier League points to Chelsea this campaign. But to quantify his worth to the club -in their attempt to successfully defend their title- with such a measly figure is a grave insult. Mourinho is worth EVERY point Chelsea pick up this season. Not since Sir Alex Ferguson has any manager had such an overarching impact on the destination of the title. It is a mark of the man that his return to the Bridge had pundits and causal fans alike declaring Chelsea title favourites before a single player had been signed or a ball had been kicked -they would ultimately finish 3rd. With a semi-permanent place in the media headlines (siege-mentality started extra early this year thanks to Ms. Carneiro), he is indeed a polarising figure. But his indomitable will to win is unquestionable. As is his yearly subjugation of his title rivals. In 40 games v Liverpool, Arsenal, City & United combined, his Chelsea have only tasted defeat a mere THREE times. An unprecedented record to say the least. His detractors highlight a style of football that is negative and uninspiring. Anti-football they call it. But let us not forget, this is a man who honed his craft in the cathedral of progressive football itself; FC Barcelona. Many will remember how Chelsea barricaded their way to the title towards the end of last season, but for the first half of it, they played the sort of football that would not go amiss at the Camp Nou. The 5-0 win at the Liberty Stadium, Fabregas’ goal v Crystal Palace (which would have undoubtedly had Wenger applauding secretly). Pertinent examples of their brilliance.
Maybe Roman’s request demand for more attractive football was all the “cajoling” that José required to create a more aesthetic team, but it was a message to the doubters; he IS capable. That sort of flexibility, fluidity and pragmatism to the game is what sets him apart from his contemporaries, and it would take bravery bordering on foolishness to doubt him this season.
Tactics and Personnel
The Iron Courtain
As with last season, Chelsea’s relative inactivity in the transfer window should see them retain their base formation of 4-2-3-1, with the team dropping into two horizontally compact banks of four out of possession and the front two of Diego Costa and Oscar/Fabregas pressing centrally to force the opposition wide. The stingiest defence in the league last season remains unchanged; Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry and Azpilicueta. In Courtois, Chelsea have a proven successor to Petr Cech and his assuredness and maturity in goal last season show a stopper advanced well beyond his years. The partnership of Cahill and John Terry was vital towards The Pensioners winning the title last season. With Cahill looking to win the ball higher up the pitch and the evergreen Terry reading the game and organising the defence with Catenaccio-esque prowess, Chelsea should once again be a solid defensive unit. However, their vocal interest in Stones suggests that Mourinho may seek an even greater control of the ball, given the England international’s ability on the ball. The recent addition of Bertrand Traore further suggests alternative tactics from Mourinho. In games when the opposition is content with sitting deep and remaining centrally compact/cluttered, the new Chelsea left-back is more adventurous than his Spanish counterpart and will aid in stretching teams similarly to the role of Ivanovic on the opposite wing. This will enable players like Hazard and Willian to operate more centrally. Players who possess such close control in tight spaces and the ability to break defensive lines of pressure will offer better options for combination play, and the ability to outnumber teams in both wide areas will create gaps from which the likes of Fabregas and Oscar can exploit with a clever pass or a darting run.
Unlock the Fab
The presence of Fabregas as one of Chelsea’s deep-lying two provides an ease in playing out from the back for Chelsea, but also provides a recycling option when Chelsea look to stretch teams banked just outside their box. His ability to unlock defences with pinpoint passing, aided by the intelligent runs of Hazard, Willian and the imperious Costa will be devastating as ever this season. And for teams looking to play higher up the field? At your own peril;
One of the reasons given for Fab’s ‘failure’ at Barcelona was his inability to adhere to the club’s very specific positional play. A hindrance in that system, but a blessing for Mourinho. Always looking to get on the ball, his ability to combine intelligently with the front four allow Chelsea to create attacking overloads, supported by the over/under-lapping runs of the Blues’ full-backs. Defences are invariably stretched to breaking point, with clever movement from the interior players being used to pull defenders out of position.
Ill-Matic
Matic retains his place alongside Fabregas, protecting Chelsea’s back four. He often situates himself between the centre-backs providing central protection, but will place himself between the full back and centre-back on the side Chelsea are attacking (i.e. between Terry and Azpilicueta on the left) to maintain their structural balance in possession, allowing the full-back to push higher up and the wide player (in this case Hazard) to then move infield. When Chelsea then choose to patiently construct play in the opposition final third, he is able to press higher up the field should Chelsea lose possession due to his positioning. This also allows Fabregas to take up that central position to aid in their build-up play from the back.
D1EG9O
Brutal, petulant, confrontational, explosive, lethal. In Diego Costa, Chelsea have a striker who divides opinion like few others have done in this league. Never one to shy from a battle with his marker, but it is this physicality that has made him a cult figure at Stamford Bridge. The lack of an out-and-out striker was the reason given for Chelsea’s failure to win the league upon Mourinho’s return. But in Costa they have that and a lot more. Able to drop in to receive the ball at feet. Able to hold off the defender and pop the ball round for an onrushing Hazard/Oscar/Willian (wide or centrally). Able to play off the shoulder of the last defender. His goals -and aggression- will once again be vital to Chelsea’s league ambitions.
Let’s hope that dodgy hamstring holds out eh?
Caution: Eden Hazard
In football, the ability to break through defensive lines of pressure is what every team strives to achieve in order to advance further up the field, score, and ultimately win games. Some teams choose to do this through intricate passing patterns, shifting the ball, with short quick passes, pulling defenders out of position and creating gaps for teammates to move into to receive the pass, and advance. Some teams do it aerially with what is otherwise known as ‘the long ball’. It can break multiple lines of pressure simultaneously, but of course the difficulty in retaining possession from these efforts is enhanced (which is why you need a Fellaini). What last year’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year brings, is an ability to single-handedly ghost through these defensive lines, disrupting defensive schemes, pulling players out of position and creating spaces for his teammates to occupy and exploit. It is an ability that few in football possess, and even fewer are able to utilise so effectively. Iniesta and Messi to name two such players. Out in the wide areas, Hazard is able to stretch defences, pull players out of positions, use intelligent overlaps to cut inside the full back (or any marker) where he can combine centrally with Fabregas/Oscar/Costa to exploit the pockets of space. However, I expect to see him operate more centrally this season. Part of the rationale for buying a more attacking left-back is the ability for them to play a higher line and provide the width, allowing players of great close control to operate more centrally, where they are far more dangerous and effective at unlocking stubborn defences. Think the Alves/Messi partnership at Barcelona (I’m sorry for using Barcelona for every example but they are a team I watch religiously). Hazard occupying a more central role allows him to play in the half-spaces between the full-back and the centre-back, providing each with a conundrum as to whose responsibility he is. In this sense, between the midfield and defensive lines, he can positionally -in theory- occupy up to four players. A nightmare for any defence. Hazard’s performances last season suggest he is ready to stake his place alongside Neymar as a contender for the Ballon d’Or duopoly currently occupied by Messi and Ronaldo. He will certainly have to contribute far more in terms of goals, but he is undoubtedly Chelsea’s brightest spark.
Final verdict
Champions
Though not the ideal start to the season -dropping 2 points at home and losing Courtois for the first crunch tie of the season v last season’s runners-up- Chelsea still remain heavy favourites to retain their Premier League crown. In Mourinho they have a manager whose record is unmatched, and his ability to set up his teams against any type of opposition is unparalleled. Bar Tony Pulis of course. While their rivals have strengthened, Chelsea can count on the familiarity of last year’s team. New players may sometimes take time to adapt, but this is a battled hardened unit, ready to defend their title, and I for one am not willing to bet against them.