Predicting Chelsea's First Team Following the Close of the 2014 Transfer Window
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had said in July that the transfer window was closed for the Blues, per Gary Jones at the Daily Star. However, there was some last-minute activity around Stamford Bridge, with Loic Remy replacing AC Milan-bound Fernando Torres in the final days of the window, per UEFA.com.
Now that the squad list has been confirmed, The Special One can crack on with working out which of his 25 players give him the best starting XI. Click through for predictions as to who makes the cut, based on performances so far and Mourinho’s comments.
All statistics from WhoScored.com.
Thibaut Courtois
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Courtois has staked his claim as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper by making at least one important save in each of his three appearances. The 22-year-old Belgian is set to sign a new long-term contract in the coming weeks, per Sky Sports, and looks to have a bright future ahead of him at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho told Sky Sports in August:
"It was logical that Courtois had to be back. It would be nonsense to have such a fantastic young goalkeeper and not to have him back. That decision was an easy one.
If I have to make a decision for Cech to be on the bench, or for Courtois to be on the bench, it's no problem for me. I will do what I think is the best.
"
Although many expected his competitor Petr Cech to leave this summer, the veteran has decided to stay and will keep Courtois on his toes, vying for a spot in the cup competitions.
Branislav Ivanovic
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Branislav Ivanovic has already scored two goals this season and his marauding runs make it likely that he will score more. He has not shirked his defensive duties either, with six tackles and 10 clearances in the three games so far.
Speaking after the Leicester City game, Mourinho told Sky Sports:
"Ivanovic is strong going forward and is strong defensively. I think that right now I expect this from him because he is one of the ones from our important days, from the mental point of view he belongs to that strong base.
"
Ivanovic also has the flexibility to step in at centre-half, meaning that injuries aside, any time he spends on the sidelines this season is likely to be limited.
Gary Cahill
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Despite conceding four goals in three games, the centre-half pairing of Gary Cahill and John Terry has been Mourinho’s first choice so far. Cahill has made 25 clearances, and with the only challengers for his spot coming in the form of untested Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen, Cahill has little to worry about at the back.
Last season, Mourinho praised his first-choice back four, telling BBC Sport:
"Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry—they perform in the sun, on small pitches, on big pitches, against aggressive teams, not aggressive teams, possession teams and not possession teams. They perform every game from day one to last day.
"
If Cahill continues to perform at a consistently high level, there is no reason for him to lose his place in the starting XI.
John Terry
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John Terry knows he has to take his training seriously, and has carried on his revival under Mourinho. The two have a close relationship from The Special One’s first spell in charge, with Terry’s importance extending beyond his commanding centre-half performances.
Speaking during pre-season, Mourinho told Sky Sports:
"John knows me and he knows the club. He just has to be worried about performing.
I don’t remember a better season than the one he just had. That’s the point. Last season he had one minor injury. He played basically every match, and at a very high level.
When you have a player able to perform during the whole season it’s because you believe that the next season he can do the same.
"
So far, Terry leads the way in clearances, having made 27 in three games as he has led the team to the top of the table. Barring injury, Terry will keep his place at the heart of the defence throughout the season.
Cesar Azpilicueta
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Cesar Azpilicueta has been under pressure to perform so far this season after the Blues brought in left-back Filipe Luis in the summer. The man who ousted Ashley Cole last season has so far kept his place, and has made more tackles than any other Chelsea player.
Mourinho praised Azpilicueta’s work-rate and attitude, telling Eurosport last season:
"Azpilicueta, this is the kind of player I like a lot. I think a team with 11 Azpilicuetas would probably win the competition [Champions League] because football is not just about the pure talent. Football is also about character and personality and Azpilicueta has all the traces of that winning personality.
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Left-back is not his natural position, but his performances so far indicate that he will remain there for the foreseeable future. His versatility means that even if he is ousted by Luis, he will have the opportunity to challenge for either full-back position to work his way back into the side.
Nemanja Matic
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Nemanja Matic is a crucial part of Mourinho’s new spine of untouchables. He has continued to improve on his already impressive form from last season, and scored his first competitive goal for Chelsea against Everton. He has instantly clicked with new signing Cesc Fabregas, and Mourinho had high praise for the duo after the win at Burnley, per The Express:
"The team played very well, but I agree with Cesc being man of the match because he and Nemanja Matic controlled the game and dictated the intensity of the game.
They were both good brains in this team and I am happy with that because last season we could not control the game as we controlled it today.
"
With 12 tackles and nine clearances alongside his goal and assist, Matic’s contributions have secured his place in Mourinho’s starting XI.
Cesc Fabregas
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Jose Mourinho has never been one to pass on a quality player, and when Cesc Fabregas became available this summer he saw the chance to replace a departing legend. The former Arsenal man has been brought in to replace Frank Lampard as the creative partner in a central midfield pairing, as reported by BBC Sport:
"Frank is the history of the club, history nobody can forget. Fabregas is the future; history is history but the future is more important at the moment.
My opinion, and the opinion of my players, is that Fabregas is the right player to occupy that central position in midfield.
"
The Spaniard has been in superb form and has bagged four assists so far. Having linked up well with Nemanja Matic in midfield, his intuitive connection with Diego Costa has been the key to Chelsea’s table-topping performances.
Andre Schurrle
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Andre Schurrle had the best summer of any Chelsea player, setting up the goal that won the World Cup for Germany. He has continued that form into the new season having scored one goal against Burnley in the opening game.
Last season, Mourinho praised Schurrle’s finishing after his hat-trick against Fulham, telling talkSPORT:
"Andre, in front of goal, has cold blood. He looks to the keeper and can put the ball through his legs, can dribble and score in an open goal. He’s a really good finisher.
Andre is still in a learning period, he needs to adapt to the Premier League, the aggression, the fact that every team is a good team and even the attacking players have to make an attacking contribution but also a defensive contribution.
"
The German has taken that advice on board, making three tackles and two interceptions alongside 11 shots in his two appearances so far. The attacking midfield positions have the most competition in the squad, but Schurrle looks to have secured his place in the starting XI for the season.
Oscar
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Oscar is the most vulnerable of the players who have started more than one game this season, having missed the dramatic 6-3 win over Everton with a knock. Mourinho made the Brazilian his first-choice No. 10 at the expense of fan favourite Juan Mata last season and made excuses for the youngster’s dip in form in the middle of the season, telling ESPN:
"The talent is there all the time, but the physical top condition to express the quality he has is not always there.
We have to take care of him. He's a young boy. He's not a natural physically strong man, suffers with the accumulation of matches, suffers with the difficult weather we had.
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Such excuses will not fly if Oscar does not improve his form this season. So far he has made seven tackles and three clearances, with one key pass per game. However, with strong competition for his place coming from his compatriot Willian, Oscar will need to up his game if he is to remain in the starting XI.
Eden Hazard
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Eden Hazard was voted Chelsea’s Player of the Year by supporters last season after scoring 17 goals in all competitions for the Blues. The pressure on him to produce such match-winning performances has been alleviated by the arrival of Diego Costa, something that the Belgian is very pleased about after complaining that he was expected to do everything last year, per The Telegraph.
He told Chelsea TV (h/t London Evening Standard):
"Last season I scored a lot of goals and maybe this season I can make a lot more passes forward because Costa is one of the best and he can score. It's my job to score but it's also my job to make assists as well. I can now concentrate on assists. I'm ready to be better than last season.
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So far he has lived up to this assertion, playing 10 key passes in three games as well as grabbing a goal for himself and forcing another from Seamus Coleman against Everton. With Oscar’s position as the first-choice No. 10 in doubt, Hazard could find himself in a more central role as he continues in the starting XI.
Diego Costa
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Although new signing Loic Remy has vowed to challenge Diego Costa for his place up front, per the Evening Standard, the Spaniard has already set the bar pretty high. Four goals from nine shots in three games highlight his clinical finishing power, while he has not been afraid to get stuck in at the other end of the pitch either.
Speaking to the official Chelsea website after the Everton game, Mourinho heaped praise on his new striker, saying:
"He [Costa] produced a fantastic performance in every aspect. I remember in the first half he was tackling Coleman on the edge of our box. He recovered balls, he held the ball up, and he was aggressive… His movement, his quality—everything was really good.
The end of the story is that Diego is maybe the best player in the league in these first three matches.
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The fact that he was able to play against Everton despite being an injury doubt is a testament to the desire he has to play. If he can keep his fitness levels up, Costa will lead the Chelsea line all season long.
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