Willian: How Can Chelsea Midfielder Withstand the Presence of Juan Cuadrado?

With Juan Cuadrado joining Chelsea on deadline day of the January transfer window, midfielder Willian's position in Jose Mourinho's side seems under immediate threat, and the Brazilian will now need to reaffirm his worth to the Blues.

Chelsea line up against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday, and in his pre-match press conference Mourinho defended the purchase of Cuadrado, as relayed by BBC Sport, claiming: "He is not a panic buy. It's a reaction to [Andre] Schurrle's departure."

Schurrle left for VfL Wolfsburg on deadline day, vacating his backup attacking midfield role.

There is a suspicion, however, that the £23.3 million spent on the midfielder suggests a first-team spot is forthcoming, and the likely position for Cuadrado to assume would be Willian's right-wing slot.

But how can Willian withstand the presence of Cuadrado as Mourinho continues to shape his title-challenging Chelsea side this season?

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Willian's Role at Chelsea

Willian joined Chelsea at the end of August, 2013, and less than a month later Mourinho publicly criticised the side's style of play, via Dominic Fifield of the Guardian:

"

I don't like the way Chelsea were playing the last couple of years; the club doesn't like it and we want to change. We want to play a different style. The past is history—even my past. I'm here like I've just arrived...If I'm an attacking player I'd prefer to play without a position, without certain responsibilities, and with others behind me to cover so I don't need to worry about [tracking back]. [But] it's about changing mentality.

"

Making an example of Juan Mata, who had to "prove to the fans that [he is] good," Mourinho outlined his expectation for his wide attackers to contribute defensively.

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Heralding Oscar as his de facto No. 10, and with Eden Hazard the immense, untouchable talent on the left-hand side, Willian joined the Chelsea squad well aware he had to shoulder a defensive responsibility.

Last year, Willian acknowledged his role in the squad, with talkSPORT quoting the midfielder: "I have always been told that I am a creative player with lots of strengths in attacking play, but since I arrived here I have tried to develop the defensive side of my game and my marking and it is working for me."

Willian is right in saying it is working for him, with the midfielder a 22-game regular in Chelsea's Premier League side, making the right-wing position his own.

But the arrival of Cuadrado may change that.

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Juan Cuadrado

Cuadrado presents Mourinho with a different proposition entirely, as well as an intriguing selection dilemma when it comes to risking the balance of his side.

Namely, Cuadrado offers Chelsea a more significant counter-attacking threat than Willian due to his offensive tendencies and his extreme pace.

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Mourinho highlighted his side's inability to complete a clinical counter-attacking move after the first leg of their League Cup semi-final against Liverpool in January, talking to Sky Sports.

"We had lots of situations where we recovered the ball and were facing a three defenders tactical system with lots of space to counter-attack," Mourinho said. "But we missed so many passes."

Willian was particularly lacking in that game, and his inability to continue play swiftly hampered the Blues.

Cuadrado would seemingly have no trouble in this regard, as his exceptional turn of pace in a goal against Siena while on loan at Serie A side Lecce in 2012 outlines:

A versatile goalscorer, and a more adept creative player than Willian with 2.2 key passes on average per game this season compared to the Brazilian's one, Cuadrado seems like a more effective right winger than his direct rival.

To ensure Cuadrado doesn't usurp his position in the Chelsea first team, Willian will need to prove his indispensable worth to Mourinho.

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How Can Willian Keep His Place?

Willian was not always considered a defensive winger, with his role at former clubs Shakhtar Donetsk and Anzhi Makhachkala markedly different to the one he fulfils at Stamford Bridge.

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Prior to his move, Eliot Rothwell of the Mirror described Willian as "the player that, all being well, Liverpool’s [Philippe] Coutinho will hope to develop into...the graceful, carefree, 'typical' Brazilian player."

Rothwell continued: "Willian’s obvious strength is his genuine ability to almost float past defenders, usually cutting in from the left onto his right foot. With his slight physique and explosive turn of pace, the Anzhi attacker offers a perennial threat to defenders."

At Anzhi, Willian was an archetypal continuity player, linking midfield to attack.

Such ability can be seen in the video below:

His transition into a defensive winger under Mourinho is very similar to that of James Milner since his 2010 move to Manchester City—over the last four-and-a-half years at the Etihad Stadium, Milner has carved a niche as City's go-to stabilising midfielder amid a hugely competitive squad.

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Willian's role at Chelsea came in similar circumstances, with the midfielder seeing the likes of Mata and Schurrle moved on arguably due to their lack of presence in the defensive sector.

Now however, the arrival of Cuadrado presents Willian with another challenge: To reassert his attacking verve and create a balance that will ensure his endurance at Chelsea.

Juan Cuadrado's move to Chelsea does present manager Jose Mourinho with a more ready-made direct option in attacking midfield, but it also presents fellow midfielder Willian with the challenge to prove his capabilities in that area of the pitch.

He's made himself indispensable before, now he must do it again.

Statistics via WhoScored.com.

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